Kabale priest says 'No' to Museveni
By Robert Muhereza
June 14, 2003
A Catholic priest in Kabale Diocese Fr. Gitano Batanyenda has criticised President Yoweri Museveni for telling religious leaders to stay out of politics.
"As church leaders, we are prophets. We must address the problems before they face our people.
If we keep quiet God shall blame us," he said, while addressing a press conference in Kabale last Wednesday.
Mr Museveni last Saturday said, during a Capital Gang talk show, that Church leaders should not engage in politics.
Fr. Batanyenda said Mr Museveni's criticism was uncalled for.
"It is we the religious leaders to protect our people from bad politics. If the country has bad leaders, the Church cannot get a conducive environment to operate in. We must be involved in advising our people against bad politics," he said, adding that politics was for all citizens.
"That is why even some Church leaders have been appointed to different committees to talk peace with rebels," he argued.
