The Bible continues to play a large role in Uganda’s public life, as politicians, candidates, and activists advert to it directly and employ its cadences in support of a variety of positions, programs, and policies.
The Inter-Religious Council of Uganda (IRCU) and the Elders Forum convened the second presidential debate in the country at the Kampala Serena Hotel on Saturday ahead of this week’s polls.
The debate to some extent focused on foreign policy, taking into account regional integration, border trade, and crime among others.
Candidates that included Abed Bwanika, Baryamureeba and Y K Museveni were quite willing to employ the Bible in service of progressive purposes.
Presidential candidate Baryamureeba said that we need to get a new leader to invest in the people, relating to the biblical message about Joshua in Deuteronomy who led Israel over the Jordan, and took possession of the Promised Land. He was also one of the twelve who were sent on by Moses to explore the land of Canaan (Numbers 13:16, 17), and only he and Caleb gave an encouraging report.
“The message is that Joshua had to be raised in the Bible and we need to get a new leader to invest in the people. I will be able to produce a billionaire every year,” Baryamureeba stated
At the same time, during his closing remarks, Museveni found his way to Matthew 7:16 which says, “You will recognize them by their fruits. Are grapes gathered from thorn bushes, or figs from thistles?”
“The Bible says that they shall know them by their fruits. Everybody knows who has made Uganda recover. Whoever does not see where we came from I doubt that they will manage.”
The rule, then: The Bible is not a political playbook. Should we say that where Christian faith matters to a substantial number of the electorate, politicians, candidates, and activists will employ the Bible or is it out of faith and fear of God that reference to the bible is made?
Of course, we cannot fail to bear in mind the answer from People’s Development Party president Dr. Abed Bwanika as per the most important decision he has ever made, “It is when I gave up my job to come and volunteer to serve in church,”
He is a Pastor at Christian Witness Church in Kampala.
Candidates should note that using Christian doctrine to push a political agenda is not just rude – it is a dangerous departure from the core message of Christianity: salvation by grace through faith.
All in all, the entire debate was a momentous occasion to be glad about.
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editor@ugchristiannews.com
Photo – Candidates asked to join hands as the Inter-religious members pray for the nation.
