Editorial
Oct 28, 2003
Vice President Prof. Gilbert Bukenya over the weekend handed down a pleasant surprise with his advice to all interested parties to avoid attacking those opposed to the lifting of presidential term limits.
As must now be almost common knowledge, some church leaders have come under fire from certain over enthusiastic state functionaries for his opinions against the lifting of presidential term limits. Now, the vice president said it is wrong to proceed in a manner that will only perpetuate rancour between the church and the state.
These are useful statements when considered in the light of promoting tolerance of divergent opinion on matters political.
Prof. Bukenya could have done a world of good if he had restricted himself to this position.
He should not have spoiled his responsible advice with that veiled admonishment against a supposed fusing of the church and the state.
He should not have told Christians, who incidentally comprise the majority of Ugandaâs population, not to involve themselves in âCaesarâs issuesâ.
You have here a most irritating situation of speaking from both ends of the mouth. Although in a way we should not be surprised by this development since it is cast in the vintage Movement style.
They have been known to give with one hand and then take away with the other.
A good example of this almost treacherous conduct can be found in their alleged freeing of political parties under the Political Parties and Organisations Act, 2002, and yet the security agencies still violently break up opposition rallies.
This kind of behaviour is what leads a wide section of the rational public to continue doubting the genuineness of this governmentâs promise to return true democracy to our country.
Where is the point when the vice president says it is only fair for everyone to respect and listen to the views of leaders, and in the next breath he effectively applies a caveat on the freedom of speech by advising against mixing Caeserâs issues with the church.
The administration has to understand that if it wants to regain a bit of the credibility that has been eroded by years of political artifice, it has to learn how to speak straight on key matters of policy.
 2003 The Monitor Publications
