Teso clerics call for nationwide inter-faith joint prayers for peaceful elections
Ahmed Idriss
Teso Religious leaders have urged the Inter-religious Council of Uganda to dedicate one week of devotion to pray for Uganda in a bid to invoke God’s guidance and protection for sustainable peace and stability before, during and after elections in Uganda.
This call was made by Sheikh Obilan Abubakar Umar the Regional Assistant Mufti for Teso-Karamoja Region who represented the religious leaders from Teso sub-region in the regional stakeholders’ Dialogue on elections and Human Rights organized by Uganda Human Rights Commission on Wednesday December 3 in Sparrow Hotel in Soroti City.
The dialogue involved religious leaders, Electoral Commission, security agencies, RDCs, media representatives, CSOs and political parties. The dialogue was centred on highlighting the roles of all stakeholders and bridging the existing gaps between different election players in order to achieve peaceful, credible, free, fair and inclusive elections in the Region and Uganda as a whole.
Obilan emphasized to election stakeholders to each effectively play their roles professionally and respect diversity in their lines of duty.
“In the multiparty dispensation all parties have equal rights to contest, to canvas for support, to support candidates of their choice, vote for their preferred candidates,” he said, adding “If we want peaceful elections, then we should respect one another and appreciate that Ugandans have constitutional right to belong or affiliate to any of the duly registered political parties and other freedoms provided for by the constitution of Uganda.”
The Sheikh further stated that God often tests those in positions of power, urging them to act responsibly, for those who abuse their power will be judged by the Almighty.
“Let us exercise mercy and Love for one another so that we consolidate the peace and stability that we have obtained as a country,” he observed.
The cleric Called on religious leaders under the umbrella of Inter-religious Council of Uganda to organize nationwide inter-faith prayers for Uganda by all religious denominations to dedicate country to God ahead of the elections.
“We can decentralize these inter-faith prayers at regional levels for more effectiveness,” Sheikh observed.
