In a bid to mend relations, opposition leaders united under the banner of the United Forces of Change held a closed-door meeting with the Inter-Religious Council of Uganda (IRCU) on Monday. The objective of the meeting was to explore avenues for enhancing the relationship between the two groups.
Joel Ssenyonyi, the Leader of the Opposition in Parliament, who headed the United Forces for Change delegation, stated, “We requested this meeting.” The opposition stressed the importance of religious leaders speaking out against injustices in the country, citing the significant impact their voices carry.
“We believe these religious leaders have a voice that can be heard,” expressed Joel Ssenyonyi to the media. “They can even speak louder than us.”
However, Archbishop of Church of Uganda Samuel Kazimba Mugalu,who is also the Chairperson of the IRCU, acknowledged differing approaches to conflict resolution. Mugalu clarified that the IRCU often prefers individual outreach to address wrongs, emphasizing that “the business of attacking people doesn’t work.”
In the preceding year, religious leaders faced criticism for neglecting opposition-organized prayers for the nation. Allegations of government bias and discrimination against the opposition were raised.
Archbishop Kazimba refuted these claims, asserting that invitations were not sent through the proper channels. He advised leaders to use the IRCU Secretary General’s office for future communication.
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