Category Archives: Religion

USA: Remarks by the President at National Prayer Breakfast

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from Judy Miriga

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The White House

Office of the Press Secretary
For Immediate Release

February 03, 2011
Remarks by the President at National Prayer Breakfast
Washington Hilton, Washington, D.C.
9:00 A.M. EST

THE PRESIDENT: Thank you so much. To the co-chairs, Jeff and Ann; to all the members of Congress who are here, the distinguished guests who’ve traveled so far to be here this morning; to Randall for your wonderful stories and powerful prayer; to all who are here providing testimony, thank you so much for having me and Michelle here. We are blessed to be here.

I want to begin by just saying a word to Mark Kelly, who’s here. We have been praying for Mark’s wife, Gabby Giffords, for many days now. But I want Gabby and Mark and their entire family to know that we are with them for the long haul, and God is with them for the long haul. (Applause.)

And even as we pray for Gabby in the aftermath of a tragedy here at home, we’re also mindful of the violence that we’re now seeing in the Middle East, and we pray that the violence in Egypt will end and that the rights and aspirations of the Egyptian people will be realized and that a better day will dawn over Egypt and throughout the world.

For almost 60 years, going back to President Eisenhower, this gathering has been attended by our President. It’s a tradition that I’m proud to uphold not only as a fellow believer but as an elected leader whose entry into public service was actually through the church. This may come as a surprise, for as some of you know, I did not come from a particularly religious family. My father, who I barely knew — I only met once for a month in my entire life — was said to be a non-believer throughout his life.

My mother, whose parents were Baptist and Methodist, grew up with a certain skepticism about organized religion, and she usually only took me to church on Easter and Christmas — sometimes. And yet my mother was also one of the most spiritual people that I ever knew. She was somebody who was instinctively guided by the Golden Rule and who nagged me constantly about the homespun values of her Kansas upbringing, values like honesty and hard work and kindness and fair play.

And it’s because of her that I came to understand the equal worth of all men and all women, and the imperatives of an ethical life and the necessity to act on your beliefs. And it’s because of her example and guidance that despite the absence of a formal religious upbringing my earliest inspirations for a life of service ended up being the faith leaders of the civil rights movement.

There was, of course, Martin Luther King and the Baptist leaders, the ways in which they helped those who had been subjugated to make a way out of no way, and transform a nation through the force of love. But there were also Catholic leaders like Father Theodore Heshburg, and Jewish leaders like Rabbi Abraham Joshua Heschel, Muslim leaders and Hindu leaders. Their call to fix what was broken in our world, a call rooted in faith, is what led me just a few years out of college to sign up as a community organizer for a group of churches on the Southside of Chicago. And it was through that experience working with pastors and laypeople trying to heal the wounds of hurting neighborhoods that I came to know Jesus Christ for myself and embrace Him as my lord and savior. (Applause.)

Now, that was over 20 years ago. And like all of us, my faith journey has had its twists and turns. It hasn’t always been a straight line. I have thanked God for the joys of parenthood and Michelle’s willingness to put up with me. (Laughter.) In the wake of failures and disappointments I’ve questioned what God had in store for me and been reminded that God’s plans for us may not always match our own short-sighted desires.

And let me tell you, these past two years, they have deepened my faith. (Laughter and applause.) The presidency has a funny way of making a person feel the need to pray. (Laughter.) Abe Lincoln said, as many of you know, “I have been driven to my knees many times by the overwhelming conviction that I had no place else to go.” (Laughter.)

Fortunately, I’m not alone in my prayers. Pastor friends like Joel Hunter and T.D. Jakes come over to the Oval Office every once in a while to pray with me and pray for the nation. The chapel at Camp David has provided consistent respite and fellowship. The director of our Faith-based and Neighborhood Partnership’s office, Joshua DuBois — young minister himself — he starts my morning off with meditations from Scripture.

Most of all, I’ve got friends around the country — some who I know, some who I don’t know, but I know their friends who are out there praying for me. One of them is an old friend named Kaye Wilson. In our family we call her Momma Kaye. And she happens to be Malia and Sasha’s godmother. And she has organized prayer circles for me all around the country. She started small with her own Bible study group, but once I started running for President and she heard what they were saying about me on cable, she felt the need to pray harder. (Laughter.) By the time I was elected President, she says, “I just couldn’t keep up on my own.” (Laughter.) “I was having to pray eight, nine times a day just for you.” (Laughter.) So she enlisted help from around the country.

It’s also comforting to know that people are praying for you who don’t always agree with you. Tom Coburn, for example, is here. He is not only a dear friend but also a brother in Christ. We came into the Senate at the same time. Even though we are on opposite sides of a whole bunch of issues, part of what has bound us together is a shared faith, a recognition that we pray to and serve the same God. And I keep praying that God will show him the light and he will vote with me once in a while. (Laughter.) It’s going to happen, Tom. (Laughter.) A ray of light is going to beam down. (Laughter.)

My Christian faith then has been a sustaining force for me over these last few years. All the more so, when Michelle and I hear our faith questioned from time to time, we are reminded that ultimately what matters is not what other people say about us but whether we’re being true to our conscience and true to our God. “Seek first His kingdom and His righteousness and all these things will be given to you as well.”

As I travel across the country folks often ask me what is it that I pray for. And like most of you, my prayers sometimes are general: Lord, give me the strength to meet the challenges of my office. Sometimes they’re specific: Lord, give me patience as I watch Malia go to her first dance — (laughter) — where there will be boys. (Laughter.) Lord, have that skirt get longer as she travels to that dance. (Laughter.)

But while I petition God for a whole range of things, there are a few common themes that do recur. The first category of prayer comes out of the urgency of the Old Testament prophets and the Gospel itself. I pray for my ability to help those who are struggling. Christian tradition teaches that one day the world will be turned right side up and everything will return as it should be. But until that day, we’re called to work on behalf of a God that chose justice and mercy and compassion to the most vulnerable.

We’ve seen a lot of hardship these past two years. Not a day passes when I don’t get a letter from somebody or meet someone who’s out of work or lost their home or without health care. The story Randall told about his father — that’s a story that a whole lot of Americans have gone through over these past couple of years.

Sometimes I can’t help right away. Sometimes what I can do to try to improve the economy or to curb foreclosures or to help deal with the health care system — sometimes it seems so distant and so remote, so profoundly inadequate to the enormity of the need. And it is my faith, then, that biblical injunction to serve the least of these, that keeps me going and that keeps me from being overwhelmed. It’s faith that reminds me that despite being just one very imperfect man, I can still help whoever I can, however I can, wherever I can, for as long as I can, and that somehow God will buttress these efforts.

It also helps to know that none of us are alone in answering this call. It’s being taken up each and every day by so many of you — back home, your churches, your temples and synagogues, your fellow congregants — so many faith groups across this great country of ours.

I came upon a group recently called “charity: water,” a group that supports clean water projects overseas. This is a project that was started by a former nightclub promoter named Scott Harrison who grew weary of living only for himself and feeling like he wasn’t following Christ as well as he should.

And because of Scott’s good work, “charity: water” has helped 1.7 million people get access to clean water. And in the next 10 years, he plans to make clean water accessible to a hundred million more. That’s the kind of promoting we need more of, and that’s the kind of faith that moves mountains. And there’s stories like that scattered across this room of people who’ve taken it upon themselves to make a difference.

Now, sometimes faith groups can do the work of caring for the least of these on their own; sometimes they need a partner, whether it’s in business or government. And that’s why my administration has taken a fresh look at the way we organize with faith groups, the way we work with faith groups through our Office of Faith-based and Neighborhood Partnerships.

And through that office, we’re expanding the way faith groups can partner with our government. We’re helping them feed more kids who otherwise would go hungry. We’re helping fatherhood groups get dads the support they need to be there for their children. We’re working with non-profits to improve the lives of people around the world. And we’re doing it in ways that are aligned with our constitutional principles. And in this work, we intend to expand it in the days ahead, rooted in the notions of partnership and justice and the imperatives to help the poor.

Of course there are some needs that require more resources than faith groups have at their disposal. There’s only so much a church can do to help all the families in need — all those who need help making a mortgage payment, or avoiding foreclosure, or making sure their child can go to college. There’s only so much that a nonprofit can do to help a community rebuild in the wake of disaster. There’s only so much the private sector will do to help folks who are desperately sick get the care that they need.

And that’s why I continue to believe that in a caring and in a just society, government must have a role to play; that our values, our love and our charity must find expression not just in our families, not just in our places of work and our places of worship, but also in our government and in our politics.

Over the past two years, the nature of these obligations, the proper role of government has obviously been the subject of enormous controversy. And the debates have been fierce as one side’s version of compassion and community may be interpreted by the other side as an oppressive and irresponsible expansion of the state or an unacceptable restriction on individual freedom.

That’s why a second recurring theme in my prayers is a prayer for humility. Now, God answered this prayer for me early on by having me marry Michelle. (Laughter and applause.) Because whether it’s reminding me of a chore undone, or questioning the wisdom of watching my third football game in a row on Sunday, she keeps me humble. (Laughter.)

But in this life of politics when debates have become so bitterly polarized, and changes in the media lead so many of us just to listen to those who reinforce our existing biases, it’s useful to go back to Scripture to remind ourselves that none of has all the answers — none of us, no matter what our political party or our station in life.

The full breadth of human knowledge is like a grain of sand in God’s hands. And there are some mysteries in this world we cannot fully comprehend. As it’s written in Job, “God’s voice thunders in marvelous ways. He does great things beyond our understandings.”

The challenge I find then is to balance this uncertainty, this humility, with the need to fight for deeply held convictions, to be open to other points of view but firm in our core principles. And I pray for this wisdom every day.

I pray that God will show me and all of us the limits of our understanding, and open our ears and our hearts to our brothers and sisters with different points of view; that such reminders of our shared hopes and our shared dreams and our shared limitations as children of God will reveal the way forward that we can travel together.

And the last recurring theme, one that binds all prayers together, is that I might walk closer with God and make that walk my first and most important task.

In our own lives it’s easy to be consumed by our daily worries and our daily concerns. And it is even easier at a time when everybody is busy, everybody is stressed, and everybody — our culture is obsessed with wealth and power and celebrity. And often it takes a brush with hardship or tragedy to shake us out of that, to remind us of what matters most.

We see an aging parent wither under a long illness, or we lose a daughter or a husband in Afghanistan, we watch a gunman open fire in a supermarket — and we remember how fleeting life can be. And we ask ourselves how have we treated others, whether we’ve told our family and friends how much we love them. And it’s in these moments, when we feel most intensely our mortality and our own flaws and the sins of the world, that we most desperately seek to touch the face of God.

So my prayer this morning is that we might seek His face not only in those moments, but each and every day; that every day as we go through the hustle and bustle of our lives, whether it’s in Washington or Hollywood or anywhere in between, that we might every so often rise above the here and now, and kneel before the Eternal; that we might remember, Kaye, the fact that those who wait on the Lord will soar on wings like eagles, and they will run and not be weary, and they will walk and not faint.

When I wake in the morning, I wait on the Lord, and I ask Him to give me the strength to do right by our country and its people. And when I go to bed at night I wait on the Lord, and I ask Him to forgive me my sins, and look after my family and the American people, and make me an instrument of His will.

I say these prayers hoping they will be answered, and I say these prayers knowing that I must work and must sacrifice and must serve to see them answered. But I also say these prayers knowing that the act of prayer itself is a source of strength. It’s a reminder that our time on Earth is not just about us; that when we open ourselves to the possibility that God might have a larger purpose for our lives, there’s a chance that somehow, in ways that we may never fully know, God will use us well.

May the Lord bless you and keep you, and may He bless this country that we love. (Applause.)

END
9:23 A.M. EST

Kenya: ON ‘KKK’ ALLIANCE.

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From: Bishop Dr. Washington Ogonyo Ngede

PRESS RELEASE FROM NYANZA COUNCIL OF CHURCH LEADERS

24-1-2011.

ON Behalf of Church leaders in Nyanza Province, I categorically condemn the so called ‘KKK’ Alliance as it is seen as a tribal outfit which is meant to divide the country along tribal lines.

Any leader with a vision to lead this country cannot bend whatsoever on tribal movements as this will not help at all in uniting Kenyans.

I am surprised to read in a section of the press when Hon. Ruto and his allies in the Alliance have now distanced themselves from the Alliance that was started in a year ago. They are denying and accepting it and this is only meant to confuse Kenyans. They should not blame the media on this issue as the purported Alliance is their own achievement

The ‘KKK’ Alliance officials are full of hatred and backbiting and therefore are not trusted with the leadership of this country at any level.

Leadership is not constituted in being young or old and leaders are chosen by God hence there is no Scripture in The Bible indicating that an old man cannot lead.

Even in some countries in Africa, and more so in Kenya, The Country’s first President Jommo Kenyatta took the leadership when he was old and the same scenario applied to Former South African President Nelson Mandela who liberated his people from Apartheid rule at an old age.

Therefore the Question of being young or old does not arise, what is important is whether someone can deliver when elected as a leader.

I am warning all Kenyans to be wary and not agree to be dragged into tribal Alliances which will not help in uniting them.

Time has now come when we must stop responding to national matters as tribes or identify ourselves as such.

Let Kenyans choose the leaders of their choice, the ones who can serve the country and its citizens without fear, favor and make it achieve the greater development politically, socially and economically.

Signed

Bishop Dr. Washington Ogonyo Ngede.

CHAIRMAN NYANZA COUNCIL OF CHURCH LEADERS.

Africa is full with dictators

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Guys,

African future looks very poor and gloomy. People have mostly focused on the black continent, that is south of sahara but even north Africa is not doing well either. North Africans are now faced with population problem, food problem and on top of that jobless whether educated or not. Some have resorted to read only koran and ready to be recruited for terrorism. Majority are now running away to europe as the last resort. Majority of north African population are less than 40 years and jobless.North Africans are now full in Europe and are proving most of the cheapest labour force available.

Let me just take you to this journey of north African dictators:

1. Marocco (marokko) : population 32,3 million. President King Mohammed VI has been ruling since 1999, does not even think about election.

2. Algeria: population 35,4 million. President Abdelaziz Bouteflika has been ruling since 1999, does not want to hear election.

3. Tunisia: population 10,4 million. President Zine al-Abidine Ben Ali ruled from 1987-2011, just kicked out by force (mass action), no election yet.

4. Libya: population 6,5 million. President Everst Muammar Gaddafi has been ruling since 1969, thinks he owns Libya and now wants his own son to take over. The country is just waiting to explode after his death.

5. Egypt: Population 84.5 million. President Hosni Mubarak has been ruling since 1981, no proper election, if there is then always the winner. Now wants his son to take over. majority of Egyptians are less than 40 years of age and jobless. The country will explode after Mubarak`s death.

Now just look at the few european countries and the arab population: Spain has 5,6 million foreigners of which 710 000 are maroccons. France has 5.0 million foreigners of which 220 000 are Tunisians, 619 000 are Maroccons, 677 000 are Algerians. Italy has 4,3 million foreigners of which 433 000 are marocans.

Economically if you do good analysis you will come to a conclusion that if these africans were employed and doing work in Africa; then africa can build itself without foreign aid. But we still have the odds on our side. Now go down to south of sahara the situation is even worse. what is wrong with african rulers?. The cold war is over so whose interest are they serving if their people are suffering like that?.

Paul Nyandoto

KENYA: COURT CONCLUDES FATHER KIZITO’S PHOTOS WERE DOCTORED

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From: ouko joachim omolo
Colleagues Home & Abroad Regional News

BY FR JOACHIM OMOLO OUKO, AJ
NAIROBI-KENYA

After a longer week in South Sudan covering the referendum I am back in Kenya briefly. In Kenya the news that struck me most is the recent adverts on Sunday Nation by Comboni missionaries that Rev Father Renato Kizito Sesana is innocent of child molestation.

The court ruled that the photos appearing on Monday June 15, 2009 on Kenya Television Network (KTN) 9 pm local time news bulletin were doctored. The news portrayed KTN reporter Evelyn Wamboi interviewing two young men whose faces were hidden behind silhouettes.

The interviewees alleged that Comboni Missionary Rev Fr Renato Kizito Sesana had sexually abused them during his time as a charity worker in Kenya. The Father in a PDF signed statement on June 16, 2009 posted to our Regional News condemned with a strongest term possible any abuse of children or any other human being.

According to the Father that particular story smelt fish, given that over the years he did a bit of research in interrogation techniques and using his experience he noted immediately that the little visible body movement and tone of the voice of the alleged victims was a bit suspect.

He noted in a statement that this interview by Evelyn Wamboi was either rehearsed or she was very gullible or she was very disparate to make a huge expose that could catapult her career.

Those who watched the news, the picture showed the face of Fr Kizito superimposed a naked body either a man or woman. It is against the background that Fr Kizito says in a statement that this was impossible to determine the gender since KTN had “censored” the naked part of the body but had left the face as to “proof” that it was Fr Kizito.

He concludes in a statement that this was obviously doctored photo because the skin tone and lighting between the face and the body was totally different. He says he could not have sex with the boys, considering that he is almost 70 years old.

Fr Kizito says he used the Google which took only few minutes to trace an original photo, from an internet porn website, into which his face was superimposed into.

In a similar case, in July 2007 when Zimbabwe’s state Television and the newspaper published photographs that portrayed Buluway Archbishop Pius Ncube have been having an affair with a married woman he said the photos were doctored (see Fr Joachim Omolo Ouko’s article- The East African- September 17, 207).

Although Ncube denied, the woman confirmed in Buluwayo court that they have been having an affair for the past two years and that she even had a kid with him.

Fr Kizito recommends that all the law enforcement arms that are concerned should immediately arrest and interrogate the reporters at KTN who prepared this story since this was not only unethical but also criminal.

He also recommends that the trustees (Michael Owiso and Michael Ochieng) who obviously framed him should be arrested and charged accordingly. If this happens it would mean that KTN and the trustees will pay dearly to Fr Kizito.

All the same, while it could be true that Fr Kizito is innocent, one fact remains that Kenya has not done much to safeguard the interests of the child (Daily Nation, August 29, 2001).

In Kenyan, any child who claims she or he has been sexually assaulted can hardly be heard in court because the law says only a child who is able to explain clearly how the crime occurred can be hard.

It explains why in Kenya many cases of child sexual assault have not been given any hearing in court because of the lack of particular law that protects the right of children.

The best example as the paper reports is where a six-year-old primary school pupil who had been a victim of repeated sex assaults by her headmaster, who infected her with venereal disease, was left free without charges. It explains further how Kenya courts cannot be trusted.

According to the story the headmaster who was arrested and locked up at Embakasi police station for six days was later released without being charged because according to the court there was no evidence that he assaulted the minor.

In a similar case, the Salvation Army Church leader in Kiambu who on August 1, 2001 defiled a six-year-old girl was released barely half-an hour after he was arrested due to lack of evidence.

Similarly in Kisumu, even though a police moved fast on August 29, 2001 to arrest a senior police officer in connection of a rape case to a minor (East African Standard, August 30, 2001), the officer, a senior sergeant based at Kisumu airport police allegedly raped a nine-year-old girl.

The evidence by Ms Angela Akinyi, mother to the girl who said the suspect went her house and raped her daughter leaving her badly injured and bleeding profusely and that when the suspect fled when Akinyi raised an alarm, still the police insisted there was no evidence.

The victim who was a standard four pupil at a school in Maseno division at that time and had been living with her mother during the school holidays also confirmed that the police man molested her.

Owing to my article (Daily Nation August 27, 1999), the problem of sexual abuse of children is not peculiar to Kenya. It is a problem that is afflicting many societies worldwide and which calls for serious action.

In Ghana, for instance, the traditional priests are continually abusing young girls. With the “Trokosi” practice which is believed to have been instituted by African ancestors to check crimes such as stealing, the innocent girls have become victims of sexual abuse for the remedy of sins others have committed.

Tradition has it in Ghana that if someone has his or her property stolen and the thief fails to surrender; it is believed that the gods of the Trokosi shrine will vent their spleen on all members of the criminal’s family. To ensure that this does not happen, virgin girls from that family are taken to the shrine for traditional priests to have sex with.

In Australia, because the abuse has become public, priests are not to be left with children for fear that they may abuse them. Glass windows are to be installed in church confessionals to prevent paedophile scandals, according to the 1997 draft code of conduct by priests. Under the draft code, confessionals should have glass-viewing panels, a move which would force the renovation of virtually every Catholic Church in the country.

Note- My colleague Joseph Adero Ngala is writing something on the situation of Ivory Coast due to be published very soon-we are also appealing to our readers to be sending us some articles for circulation- Editor

People for Peace in Africa (PPA)
P O Box 14877
Nairobi
00800, Westlands
Kenya

Tel 254-20-4441372
Website : www.peopleforpeaceafrica.org

Luo Thuondi!

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From: MOSES OPADO

Once upon a time . . .

A duokoni Ruoth Nyasaye Nyakalaga Erokamano Maduong’ kuom miyowa thuolo mondo wabed janeno Epiny Kenya.Ero sikukuu Ochopo Cham Uro kod Wedeu! Kuom yie achiel paro A chiel gi Geno Achiel.Jaluo ok Cham
Thuol! Wa lem Uru ni jowamatie eot Ang’enge,Ood Chieth,Endara kaachiel gi Mond Liete kod Maskindee!Ruoth Omiu Ngima mogudho kuom Ng’uonone.I wish you Merry Christmass and Happines comes New Year- Opado Obingo wuod Olwalo!

God And Guns

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from HUMPHREY MBOGO

God And Guns-Mart De Haan

Does the security of our nation depend on its military might? What would happen if we were to do away with our armed forces? If that sounds foolish, it’s probably because the idea of disarming would be as unwise today as it would have been in ancient Israel. It doesn’t make sense to lay down weapons in a world where God has often used them to protect His people. But there’s another side to this question. No nation can control its own future by sheer military power alone.

The need for God’s resources was often emphasized in the Old Testament. The Lord reminded His people Israel that He could save them without bow, sword, battle, horses, or horsemen (Hos. 1:7). He would provide them with a kind of national security that was unknown to the rest of the world. As Psalm 2 indicates, the nations make a lot of noise and act as if their own strength is enough. But the Lord laughs at the exaggerated feelings of self-importance of leaders who think that the race is always “to the swift” or “the battle to the strong” (Eccl. 9:11).

Where is your confidence? If your trust is in the Lord, you will have security that no weapons can ever give. “Blessed are all those who put their trust in Him” (Ps. 2:12).

It’s often easier to trust
In what our eyes can see,
But God asks us to look to Him
For our security.
God is the only ally we need.

Kenya & World: Obama’s grandmother’s plea that he should convert to Islam provokes angry reaction from Kenyan Christians

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Writes Leo Odera Omolo In Kisumu City.

The seemingly uncoordinated remarks made at the weekend by the 88 year old step grandmother of the US President, Barack Obama, that she had prayed hard for this grandson to convert to Islam, has provoked sharp criticism from Kenyan Christians who felt such utterances were unwarranted and uncalled for.

Mama Sarah Omar OIbama, the step grandmother of the US President Barack Obama, ade the remarks in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, during an exclusive interview with Al-Wetan, a daily newspaper in Saudi Arabia.

The interview has since been widely carried by all the major international news agencies.

Mama Sarah Obama, who went to Mecca to attend the annual Hajj pilgrimage in the company of her younger son, Said Hussein Obama, and four of her grand children, told the newspaper,” I prayed hard for my grandson, the US President Barack, to convert to Islam.

Kenya’s Sunday NATION, with the largest circulation in East and Central Africa, carried the excerpt of the interview originally published by the Al-Wetan daily last Saturday.

These remarks have since elicited severest criticism by several Christian church leaders in Kenya’s Nyanza Province, where the US leader has a family tree root in Alego Kogelo in Siaya County.

When such a leader who, heads a Christian church with sizable following in the region, and who requested anonymity, said such remarks tend to damage the US President’s relations with the Muslim states, worsen his domestic US politics, and even seriously hart his relations with American Christians.

“These remarks”, the clergyman continued, “could impact negatively on President Obama’s domestic politics in the US and cause tensions between the President and the Christians in a country where the majority of its citizens are devoted Christians”.

He added that Mama Sarah Obama, who had gained instant fame after the election of her step grandson the US presidency, should have been accompanied by someone who could give her proper guidance in all her undertakings during the pilgrimage in Saudi Arabia.

Another prominent church leader advised Mama Sarah Obama to steer clear of religious diplomacy, which he claimed are very weighty matters in the world today, particularly when considering the important position held by President Barack Obama in the world today.

One clergyman cited Mama Sarah Obama’s visit to Libya last year at the invitation of the erratic Libyan strongman Muamor El-Gadhafi – – an undertaking which should have required some kind of clearance from the US Whitehouse. Her trip to Libya came about at the time when Washington-Tripoli relations were not very cordial. And it was shrouded in top secrecy.

President Obama eldest step brother Abdul Malik Abong’o Hussein Obama could not be reached for comment. Malik Abong’o Hussein Obama, the 52-year old businessman, was reported to be busy campaigning to be an independent parliamentary candidate for the Alego-Usonga seat in 2012, although he has yet to confirm his candidature.

Those close to the Obma family in rural Kogelo, Alego-Siaya, says he is currently busy visiting door to door collecting signature of the voters as required by the new laws stipulated in the new Kenyan constitution that an independent parliamentary candidate must obtain a certain number of voters signature before such a person could be allowed to participate in the election as an independent candidate not in any existing political party.

Ends

Uganda: Muslims in Nation are demanding to be given big jobs like Christians

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Writes Leo Odera Omolo

PRESIDENT Yoweri Museveni joined hundreds of Muslims at Arua Primary School grounds in Arua municipality for prayers to mark Idd Adhuha.

Museveni (centre) attending the Idd Adhuha prayers in Arua yesterday. On his left is Kampala mayor Nasser Sebaggala

He congratulated the Muslim community upon marking the holy day and asked them to continue serving and praising God for the gift of life.

The President, who is also the NRM presidential candidate for next year’s polls, is in the West Nile region on his campaign trail.

He appealed to all religious leaders to incorporate fighting household poverty in their teachings.

According to a release from State House, Museveni said the Government welcomed all religious institutions in fighting poverty using their close relationship with their faithful.

He added that if all households had good sources of income, it would be easy for religious organisations to fund their development activities by raising funds from their followers.

“Your leader has just told me about the need for a bigger mosque and that there are 34,000 Muslims in Arua municipality. If all these had a source of income, they would build the mosque themselves,” he said.

He promised to work closely with the Arua Muslim leaders to build a new mosque.

In a separate message to the nation, Museveni commended the good working relationship and fellowship exhibited by the Uganda Muslims in relation to other faiths.

“Such acts point to more similarities in the great faith of Islam and Christianity. Both preach the message of love for one another,” he said yesterday in a message to congratulate Muslims upon the holy celebrations of Idd Adhuha.

Museveni also commended what he described as the spirit of hard work and enterprise displayed by most Muslims in the country.

“I pray that God rewards, especially the acts of kindness and generosity extended to his people by Muslims,” he said.

Muslims worldwide celebrate Idd Adhuha to commemorate the willingness of Abraham to sacrifice of his son, Ishmael, an act God rewarded with a ram to sacrifice instead.

Ends

Mid-term elections in USA: Any lessons here?

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from Absalom Birai

Today is the day that many have eargerly looked forward to with mixed feelings.It’s mid-term elections in the United states; a day that at the end of it, some will rejoice and thank family, friends,and supporters for contributing to their success and others will blame who knows who/ what for their failure.

For several days now as I have listened to the news and ads of politicians attacking each other,I have found myself thinking and wondering of how challenging/difficulty it’s to hold
a public office. It comes with a great price. No matter what you do, its hard to please all.The good news for whoever will loose is that they can come back two years later and win. In other words,its a question of time before there is another election which will give all an opportunity to try again.

Any spiritual lesson here? Yes,indeed. The Bible tells us that a day is coming when all will face the Lord of the universe who by then would have made a decision about which candidates will qualify for His heavenly kingdom.By the time,He descends to take His own,every case would have been decided. No campaigns or going to court will be of any help. The decision will not only be final but also fair. Here is what the Bible says:

” “Look, he is coming with the clouds,and “every eye will see him,even those who pierced him”; and all peoples on earth “will mourn because of him.So shall it be! Amen.” (Revelation 1:8)

““When the Son of Man comes in his glory, and all the angels with him, he will sit on his glorious throne. All the nations will be gathered before him, and he will separate the people one from another as a shepherd separates the sheep from the goats. He will put the sheep on his right and the goats on his left. “Then the King will say to those on his right, ‘Come, you who are blessed by my Father; take your inheritance, the kingdom prepared for you since the creation of the world. For I was hungry and you gave me something to eat, I was thirsty and you gave me something to drink, I was a stranger and you invited me in, I needed clothes and you clothed me, I was sick and you looked after me, I was in prison and you came to visit me.”Mathew 25:31-36)

You and I have an opportunity now and not tomorrow to prepare for the final election day.Right now,it might seem to be that far,but is that not how we feel in most cases until we are caught unaware.

Pr Birai
www.pastorbirai.com

Kenya: The Drunken Priest

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from Kuria-Mwangi

A new priest at his first mass was so nervous he could hardly speak. After mass he asked the monsignor how he had done. The monsignor replied, “When I am worried about getting nervous on the pulpit, I put a glass of vodka next to the water glass. If I start to get nervous, I take a sip.”

So the next Sunday he took the monsignor’s advice. At the beginning of the sermon, he got nervous and took a drink. He proceeded to talk up a storm. Upon return to his office after mass, he found the following note on his door:

1. Sip the Vodka, don’t gulp.

2. There are 10 commandments, not 12.

3. There are 12 disciples, not 10.

4. Jesus was consecrated, not constipated.

5. Jacob wagered his donkey, he did not bet his ass.

6. We do not refer to Jesus Christ as the late J.C.

7. The Father, Son, and Holy Ghost are not referred to as Daddy, Junior, and the Spook.

8. David slew Goliath, he did not kick the shit out of him.

9. When David was hit by a rock and knocked off his donkey, don’t say he was stoned off his ass.

10. We do not refer to the cross as the Big T!

11. When Jesus broke the bread at the Last Supper he said, “Take this and eat it, for it is my body”, he did not say, “Eat me.”

12. The Virgin Mary is not referred to as the, “Mary with the Cherry”.

13. The recommended grace before a meal is not: “Rub-A-dub-dub, thanks for the grub, yeah God”. and finally…

14. Next Sunday there will be a taffy-pulling contest at St.Peter’s, not a peter-pulling contest at St. Taffy’s.

—
http://www.kuria-mwangi.blogspot.com
http://www.facebook.com/kjmwangi

Uganda: Angry Muslims besieged Nakasero Mosque and blocked the police patrol team

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reports Leo Odera Omolo

ANGRY Muslims yesterday besieged Nakasero Mosque, confining its leader, Sheik Sulaiman Kakeeto, accusing him of attempting to demolish the mosque on Saturday night, the government owned NEWVISION reported on its online service this morning.
,

Hundreds converged at Snay Bin Amir Street at dawn after reports that Kakeeto had deployed workmen to pull down the dilapidated structure.

Wielding sticks, they surrounded the 70-year-old structure and warned of trouble if Kakeeto and his team continued with their plan.

Muslims with huge sticks standing near a Police patrol vehicle at Nakasero Mosque

On April 8, the Uganda Muslim Suuni Association and the Uganda Muslim Tabliq Community signed an agreement allowing businessman Mutaasa Kafeero to redevelop the place.

Under the about sh5b project, Kafeero is to build a multi-storied commercial building on Plot 4 Snay Bin Amin Street, and plots 17A, 17B and 17C on Entebbe Road, where the mosque is located.

The structure will have four floors, the top floor being the mosque and the third floor to act as offices for the mosque and lock-ups.

Mutaasa, who is supposed to occupy the rest of the building, will be in charge of the structure for 75 years, according to the agreement.

Last evening, Kakeeto vowed to go ahead with their arrangement.

Huge crowds of Muslims raided the mosque, where they vowed to block anybody from pulling down the mosque.

Raising their fists in the air, they chanted “Allah Akbar” (God is great).

As tempers flared, Makindye West MP Hussein Kyanjo, Sheik Najib Musisi of the once-contested mosque on William Street in Kampala, and the Police attempted to calm the situation.

Calling for a “logical approach”, Kyanjo said: “We should put our differences aside as we try to solve this problem. We should avoid chaos.”

The situation was contained after a meeting between the Muslim leaders, Kampala South Police boss Moses Kafeero and Abdulhakim Ssekimpi.

During the brief meeting, it was agreed that the two parties, the one for and that against the redevelopment, meet on Thursday to “reach an amicable solution”.

Yesterday, Mutaasa told New Vision that he was committed to building a place of worship that conforms to Islam once the differences are resolved.

Ends

Kenya: Churches want Murugi sacked over gay remarks

From: Rose Kagwiria

Well i wonder if there is anything good out of our churches today. What were they expecting minister Murugi to say. Take it seriously guys even the pope himself forgave those hormos. I wonder what these churches are thinking? The other day Evans Machera quoted some bible verses where Jesus said whoever knows is not a sinner can start throwing the stone on that woman. Nobody did it. How many of our clergy are sodomizing our sons? How many are raping our daughters? How many are making our daughters pregnant and give them money to go for abortion? How many are having sex with people’s wives? Yet they remain serving in our churches. The same people can dare challenge our minister for accepting these brothers, sisters, sons and daughters in our community. Did she at any time say she wanted people to be gays, lesbians or prostitutes? If she said this then one can condemn her. Did these churches expect her to tell them to go to jail because they have sinned. I think the whole issue is more complicated than the church think. I would have expected the church to hold crusades and educate the youth on the dangers of these practices. One time they dont want cardhis courts another time they dont want women in need to be seen by health professionals, and so many other things they dont want , yet they dont offer a solution. Does it mean the church today is only thinking NEGATIVELY but never CONSTRUCTIVELY? Read this .

http://www.nation.co.ke/News/-/1056/1025144/-/11jolxwz/-/index.html

Rose
+254722672157

Kenya: E. Murugi’s unconstitutional Remark on Gays / Lesbians

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‘We need to learn to live with men who have sex with other men..we are in the 21st century and things have changed’. That was the statement by Minister Esther Murugu – Special Programmes to a seminar for homosexuals, lesbians and sex workers.

The current constitution outlaws gays / Lesbins marriages and as well it has (not?) legalised prostitution. But the new bill of rights contains clauses outlawing discrimination on nay grounds, including race and gender. Conservative Kenyans complained that the contentious clause would pave the way for gay marriage.

Archbishop Desmond Tutu attacked the African clergy for closing doors for Gays and Lesbians. In particular, Tutu asked the Kenyan clergy to allow Gay/Lesbian to access to facilities like health, counselling and more so provide love. Lesbian Gay Bisexual Transgender and Intersex (LGBIT) together with the KNHRC organized the first public gathering of the Gays and Lesbians applauding the CoE for inclusion of their rights in the constitution.

Should President Kibaki and Raila Odinga then take action against Esther Murugi as per the Sheikh Mohmaed Khalifa of the Council of Imams and Preachers of Kenya?

Kombo Elijah

KENYA CHURCH BODY TELLS GOVERNMENT TO INVOLVE THEM IN THE CONSTITUTION IMPLEMENTATION.

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By Agwanda Powerman

THE National Council of Churches of Kenya (NCCK) is not wooing the government to include it in the implementation of the new constitution as the church need to be involved and its not a favour says Reverend Canon Peter Karanja the Secretary General of the Church’s body.

Speaking in Kisumu after meeting members of NNCK Nyanza Region Committee.Karanja added that all Kenyans must be engaged in the implementation process as this will ensure that the new constitution gets the essential support and ownership it needs.

“We further call for an end to the emerging trend of playing political games with the new constitution ,the interpretation and structuring of the implementation should be left to the constitutional organs of implementation,key among them being the Commission for the implementation of the Constitution as through this body the government is to transmit its proposals for implementation of the new constitution as well as draft bills that go to parliament for consideration if Kenyans are to trust its intentions”Karanja added.

He also at the same time urged the government to ensure that a representative Commission is put in place urgently so that the process of implementation can begin and called upon committed and mature Christians to bodily offer themselves for position of leadership and governance when the chances emerge .

He also called on President Mwai Kibaki and Prime Minister Raila Odinga to fulfill their promises of pre-referendum that after the referendum contentious issues will be addressed.

“These two principals should now give leadership to the integration of amendment of contentious issues as part and parcel of the process of implementation and this move will ensure that Kenyans have an opportunity to address the issues identified earlier as well as any other that are found to be contradictory and unworkable”he added.

ENDS

USA: America is better off with Obama than a Republican

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From: Joseph Lister Nyaringo

President Barrack Obama faces tough challenges than most American Presidents in recent history despite working hard to address the impediments he inherited from his Predecessor, President W. George Bush.

He is hassling to resuscitate America’s dwindling economy through job creation, restructuring the Country’s financial system and to rebuild the broken diplomatic relations that went sour during Bush’s Presidency, a Republican.

It’s ironical that the party that was in power before Obama took over inherited a budget surplus from former President Clinton, a democrat but messed up the economy. They now expect Obama to fix things overnight even after he forewarned them before taking office of tough times a head especially the economic downtrend and job creation for many unemployed Americans.

Obama critics must know that to lead a country of more than 300 million people is not easy. In fact, even if John McCain had won, it would have taken him time to turn things around especially the economy.

In the international scene, Obama has tried to thaw the animosity towards America from the Arab World reassuring them that the US is not their enemy; which is a great stride for reconciliation and global peace.

To the contrary, this gesture has made the Republicans brand Obama as a sympathizer to Islam; a religion they link with terrorism. In fact, John McCain’s Vice Presidential running mate, Sara Palin have used placards in their Tea party rallies with inscriptions that brands Obama as a terrorist, a fascist, a racist, an a Adolf Hitler and an anti-Christ. This is the same woman who would not even differentiate between South Africa as a Country and Africa as a Continent in the 2008 Presidential elections.

How do you brand a legitimately and genuinely elected US President a dictator and still exercise freedom of assembly and speech in rallies, TV stations and on the internet? These Republicans need to wise up. I wish they knew what goes on in Zimbabwe and Iran.

The US President’s diplomatic approach has angered many evangelical Right wing Christian leaders; notably, Pastor John Haggee of John Haggee Ministries of Texas, whose sermons have persistently portrayed Obama, as not doing enough to prevent Iran from acquiring a nuclear weapon. This is a clear demonstration that if Obama was a Republican, they would advise him to invade Iran, the way they did to Bush before America invaded Iraq.

Pastor Haggee and Pat Robert of Christian Broadcasting Network (CBN) amongst others accuse Obama for socialising America; an ideology they link with Satanism. Truly, if signing a medical bill to benefit millions of uninsured Americans is communism (socialism), and also extending unemployment insurance to benefit the Americans out of job is satanic, then these Church leaders do not know the true meaning of being “Christ like.”

We of the Kenyan descent living in America cringe with disgust on seeing how Obama’s presidency has ignited racist remarks coming from Christian Preachers whose sermons are watched on TV by Kenyan Christians at home. Instead of challenging him on policy matters, they’re using racial slurs, an indication that the question of racism in America is far from over.

Recently, a former Republican House Speaker Newt Gingrich, who is mulling a bid to run for President in 2012, said that Obama’s animosity toward the West is influenced by his forefather’s resistance against the British rule in Kenya. What type of a President Mr. Gingrich will be if he doesn’t get it that like Kenya, the US was once a British colony and that Obama is an American, born in the West despite his mixed race?

How gullible is the Republican Party leadership that even after Obama’s two years in the Oval Office, they are still pressing him to produce his birth certificate in order to be convinced that he is an American and not a Kenyan? It’s only in America where you have the freedom to insult a sitting president with unprintable epithets without repercussions.

I believe that, those who elected Obama were not ignorant to vote for a Kenyan or some one whose origin they didn’t know in the 2008 Presidential elections. They will exercise the same right to either vote him out or for a second term in 2012. And therefore, questioning his citizenship is not only an insult to those who came from diverse political backgrounds- republicans, independents and democrats and overwhelmingly voted for him, but also recipe to dent America’s respect and image abroad.

The role of a political opposition in a democracy is to keep the government on its toes with fairness without malice and prejudice while sticking to policies and issues that benefit the ruled. The Republicans are racists and they want to ensure that the Obama Presidency is a disaster so that in future, a person of colour will not be entrusted with the US Presidency.

The Republicans have stooped to low and if they think by trying to dent the image of a legitimately elected President because of his colour will catapult them to take the White House in 2012, they are blinding themselves. In fact, their behaviour towards Obama has set a very grim picture to the US which is seen globally as the epitome of democracy, justice and freedom.

Finally, America is better off with President Obama than a Republican. His management of the US affairs is in tandem with the American constitution which has been exercised by his predecessors.

Joseph Lister Nyaringo
New Jersey, USA

Kenya & USA: USA must respect Law and Freedom of Worship

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Forwarded by: Elijah Kombo

President Kibaki should act swiftly since Kenya has shown the world that we can hold a peaceful referendum and have a constitution that respects freedom of worship. By inviting President Bashir to the country, it was a show that Kenya respect freedom of individuals regardless of their affiliations. Kenya is the only country that recognizes that freedom of worship is paramount.

Therefore, President Kibaki should immediately dispatch his Vice President Kalonzo Musyoka with a message to tell the Americans to respect the rule of law and freedom of worship. Americans must stop the Pastor who is threatening to burn the Holy Quarans. As we mark September 11th bombing, Americans must wake to reality that religions is not extremism. Kalonzo is best placed to pass the message to Obama and his administration. And if not then he can send Eugene Wamalwa to pass the messge through Rannaerberg f at all the Kenyan Ambassador cant protest to the White House.

Kombo Elijah

Uganda: Museveni to reconcile the Muslim leaders in nation

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Reports Leo Odera Omolo

PRESIDENT Yoweri Museveni is to mediate between the Muslim factions headed by Mufti Shaban Ramadhan Mubajje and Sheikh Zubair Kayongo.

Speaking at futur (breaking of the fast) he hosted for Muslims at State House Entebbe on Wednesday to mark the end of Ramadhan, Museveni called for unity among the Muslim community.

Museveni (right) greeting Kampala mayor Sebaggala and Moses Katongole, the head of UTODA, a taxi watchdog, after a dinner at State House.

“There has been in-fighting among Muslims. I would like you to sit down and sort out this problem amicably,” he said. About 300 guests across the country attended the function that started about 7:00pm and went on past 10:00pm. Sources said most notable figures who attended the function were loyal to Mubajje except a few who support Kayongo. National Resistance Movement (NRM) vice-chairman Hajji Moses Kigongo, Libyan ambassador Abdallah Bujeldain and Dr. Ahmed Kisuule, Uganda’s ambassador to Iran, were present.

In his address, Museveni also said he would call the unity meeting because “in-fighting is not good. Those differences must be settled”.

Mubajje heads the Old Kampala faction while the Kibuli faction is headed by Kayongo. Muslims opposed to Mubajje in January 2009 named Kayongo as mufti following a disagreement with Mubajje over the sale of Muslim property in Kampala.

The conflict ended up in the court, with Mubajje, city businessman Hassan Basajjabalaba and former secretary general Edris Kasenene facing criminal charges. The trio was acquitted by court. But the anti-Mubajje faction rejected the court verdict and named their own mufti.

Mid this year, the Old Kampala faction split with Mubajje and the Uganda Muslim Supreme Council chairman, Hassan Basajjabalaba, with each of them purporting to sack the other. Their differences have not been resolved. The President assured his guests that the Government had brought peace which people should take advantage of to wipe out poverty. “The Government is doing its part by providing electricity power and roads but it will not come to your house and remove poverty. That is your responsibility as an individual,” he said.

Museveni advised the school-going children to target science courses that, he said, have a ready job market. He said the Government had finalised the plan for a loan scheme for university graduates who fail to find employment.

Museveni urged Ugandans to start commercial farming so that they can have products to sell as well as maintain food security.

Earlier, Mubajje had said the Muslim top organ would organise elections for leaders before December this year. “Whoever is interested in leadership should go down and get the mandate of the people,” he said.

Mubajje cautioned Muslims against engaging in terrorism, referring to the July 11 incident in which 79 people were killed in bomb attacks in Kampala.

“You have been humble and law abiding during Ramadhan, I appeal to you to continue the same way even after fasting. The end of fasting does not mean the end of good behavior,” he advised.

The sumptuous dinner was punctuated by recitations from Sheik Umar Ddumba and performances from Matali entertainment group, which sang praises for Museveni and called for his re-election.

End

Uganda: new terror threat by Al-Shabaab terorists against nation during Ramadhan

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Reports Leo Odera Omolo

UGANDAN security is on full alert ahead of Idd festivities, which mark the end of the Muslim holy month of Ramadhan slated for tomorrow,the government owned NEWVISION reported this morning

Al-Shabaab on Tuesday demanded that Uganda withdraws her peacekeeping troops from the war-torn Somalia, or face more attacks.

Accordingly, security has been stepped up to counter the threats, said Police spokeperson Judith Nabakooba.

“We call upon the public to be vigilant, especially during this period of Idd,” she said yesterday.

The latest threat was issued by the Islamists’ radical leader Sheikh Fuad Mohamed Khalaf ‘Shangole at a mosque in Mogadishu.

Defence spokesperson Felix Kulayigye yesterday said violence will not work.

The Somali-based Islamic militants claimed responsibility for the twin bombings, which killed 79 people in Kampala on July 11.

“I advise them to try something else but not threats of violence because it will not work. It will not make us change our stand,” Kulayigye said.

The Ugandan troops are serving under the African Union force called AMISOM. “Our troops will not leave Somalia as long as the African Union wants them there,” he said. “The people of Somalia want peace and that is what took us there.”

He added: “We are not in Somalia for adventure; it is by conviction to ensure the return of peace for our brothers.
“We have been defending Uganda since February 6, 1981 and we have never backslid on that. Ugandans should remain vigilant and let us know of suspicious people.”

The militants on Tuesday accused President Yoweri Museveni of becoming an obstacle to stability in the war-torn Somalia and warned him not to send more troops to Somalia.

Ugandan and Burundian peacekeepers are assisting the Somali Transitional Federal Government. Uganda recently sent 750 troops of the 10,000 more soldiers it pledged during the recent AU summit in Kampala.

AU officials said last week AMISOM’s troop level had recently risen to 7,200. The force is seeking a more robust mandate that would allow it to hunt down insurgents.

Uganda’s fight against al-Shabaab has received a boost from several countries since the July 11 attack. The US, Britain, Kenya, among others, rushed investigators to work with the Kampala team, leading to the arrest of over 50 arrests.

In fresh investigations, two more Kenyans were early this week arrested in connection with the blasts. Habib Sulaiman Njoroge was arrested at the Kenya-Uganda border post of Malaba while trying to sneak into Uganda. Also arrested is journalist Habib Suleiman working for an FM station in Mombasa.

A total of 34 suspects have been charged with terrorism, murder and attempted murder. Among them are Ugandans, Kenyans, Somalis and one Pakistani.

Ends

TANZANIA: THE CHANGE WE WANT

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From: Ally Ulanga, Sept.2010 and Feb. 2009

A thought of the day

1.I’m I working on forming a better Tanzania ? Imp not there yet, but am work in progress…What about you?

2. And to all Christians out there,” 2 Chronicles 7:14 If my people, which are called by my name, shall humble themselves, and pray, and seek my face, and turn from their wicked ways; then will I hear from heaven, and will forgive their sin, and will heal their land.

Are we upholding our leaders in prayers? Are we repenting, on behalf of this nation, are we seeking godly solutions, or are we in the bandwagon of complaining.

– – – – – – – – – – –

On 2/9/09, oldmoshi wrote:

I think that its time we used more time in this forum in focusing on SOLUTIONS to these myriad problems facing our nation. But we also need the POLITICAL WILL from those in-charge to implement these solutions. As we discuss the solutions to our problems-lets also find a way of making the political leaders to have the will to implement these solutions. Tanzania has very good brains and very good plans..But there has never been the political will to implement these plans.

The Very First step towards a better Tanzania is the CONSTITUTIONAL REVIEW. Let CCM at least leave office having given Tanzanians a new constitution. This will form a new basis of the Social Contract for the people of Tanzania. Let the new constitution address institutional weaknesses that most of our institutions have..Let it strengthen the independence of the judiciary..the independence of parliament and institute checks and balances in the government. Let it also have devolution as part of the struncture of government. Once we have a new constitution the next step is RESPECTING the constitution. Sometimes a concstitution means nothing without it being respected. We may have even the Draft but if its not respected then we shall have done nothing.

TANZANIAN PLIGHT-Let our leaders be serious in thinking about the Tanzanian poor. If Education cant reach the rural areas-why? and can something be done as soon as possible. Why are Leaders still languishing in the country? Can something be done sooner for them? We seriously need leadership that think of the country not of themselves first. Why the National ID scandal? and how did this happen? The next step is for all of us to embrace the thinking that a Tanzania without all These is a Kenya that will be better for all of us . a Tanzania following the rule of law will be better for all of us..I think its as simple as that..BUT it starts with the common Citizen .Lets not buy the lies that some politicians tell us..Politicians must also BUILD TRUST among themselves.

I think its time TANZANIANS themselves pushed their leaders towards the direction that they want this country to go. For me a better Tanzania I believe will be a better Tanzania for all not just a section of the country. BUT the most important thing is not just talk but PRACTICE. Lets see in 2010 if we vote people based on their POLICIES and not tribe. Lets see if we come together to achieve a new constitution. Lets see if this government will fight corruption. Lets see if Citizens will be helped.

—
Yona Fares Maro
Master of Science in Computer Science and Information Systems (MS)
University of Michigan-Flint

Uganda: Museveni tell the African bishops to promote development and social transformation

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Writes Leo Odera Omolo

PRESIDENT Yoweri Museveni on Wednesday evening hosted the visiting African and foreign Bishops to a dinner at State House Entebbe. The prelates are here for the second All Africa Bishops Conference in Entebbe at Imperial Resort Beach Hotel which ends tomorrow.

As they arrived atop the hill at snail pace in three minibuses, many were awe struck by the breath taking beauty of the palatial structure, imposing majestically over Entebbe town. They ate and drank, with the President who called on them to champion social economic transformation.

“It is very important that the church leaders, political leaders and traditional leaders understand that social-economic transformation is the main problem in Africa”, the President said.
Museveni told them that as shepherds of the people of Africa, they ought to appreciate that Africans are among the most under-developed in the world.

African societies, he stressed, must undergo changes from peasant, feudal settings to middle class and skilled working class societies, according to a state House Press release.
He noted that Bishops had plenty of time to interact with the people and pass on the message of social transformation.

The President asked the Church leaders to encourage people to work and not to sit idly thinking God would make things happen miraculously. Archbishop Henry Luke Orombi of the Church of Uganda assured his fellow prelates that the people of Uganda were hospitable and open hearted.

He thanked President Museveni for his support to the conference, saying over 300 bishops had attended the conference.
Yesterday, the bishops deliberated on ways through which the church could fight against climate change and food insecurity.

In a keynote presentation, Dr. Rose Mwebaza, a senior legal advisor on environment at the Nairobi-based Institute of Security Studies, said the continent was bound to suffer endless hunger and high disease burden due to climate change.

“The Food and Agriculture Organisation (FAO) says the greatest hunger in the world is in Africa. And climate change is going to exacerbate the problem through increased drought, floods and disease burden,” Mwebaza said.

She challenged the clergy to mobilise believers to start up simple energy technologies like biogas and reduce dependence on wood and curb deforestation

Ends