The Bishops should be appauld for this move.
MK
Bishops Reject Referendum On Parties
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New Vision (Kampala)
June 3, 2004
Posted to the web June 3, 2004
Jude Etyang
Kampala
THE Catholic, Anglican and Orthodox bishops have jointly opposed the proposed
referendum on change of the political system.
The bishops, under the Uganda Joint Christians Council (UJCC), said the referendum was
unnecessary and costly.
They urged President Yoweri Museveni to stick to the oath he took in 2001 to uphold
and protect the Constitution.
Metropolitan Jonah Lwanga of the Orthodox Church, the UJCC chairperson and his
deputies, Cardinal Emmanuel Wamala and Archbishop Luke Orombi, presented the
resolutions last evening at the end of UJCC's annual plenary session at Pope Paul
Memorial centre.
"UJCC is opposed to the use of the referendum to amend the constitution. The
referendum is too costly for a country like Uganda particularly in view of the fact
that government has not been able to provide adequate resources for the people in
Internally Displaced People's camps in northern Uganda," the joint statement said.
"Many pupils are still studying under trees and over 50% of our budget is dependent on
foreign donations," it said.
Cardinal Wamala said the plenary had found that the referendum was not necessary
because the Movement government had adopted the principle of pluralism and registered
as a political party, "hence there is no system under which a referendum can be held."
Orombi said in 2001, while taking oath for his second term in office, Museveni swore
to protect and uphold the Constitution.
"If these were the words of our President, why shouldn't he stick to them?" Orombi
asked.
He said UJCC was not fighting the government but guiding the public on issues which
affect them.
The bishops resolved that government should ensure a peaceful and orderly transfer of
power.
Meanwhile, Dennis Ojwee reports that the Pope has urged the Government to protect the
lives of its citizens, especially those in northern Uganda where the LRA have
continued to kill and maim citizens for 18 years.
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Cardinal Renato Raffaele Martino, the president of the Pontifical Council, delivered
the Pope's call for justice and peace during a visit to Gulu on Tuesday.
"I came here today to cry and pray with you, because your are crying for the loss of
over 30 of your dear ones who were killed by the LRA rebels. The loss of your people
was felt by the Pope in the Vatican, Rome, and when the Pope sent me to come and Grace
over the occasion of Uganda Martyrs' day, he told me come and pray with the people of
the north, and we chose to come to Pagak," Martino said.
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