By Robert Kigongo.

Tale as old as the sun rising from the East to setting the West is the marriage between religion and politics.

Scarring as truly it can be, this is bittersweet marriage of convenience not based on pure love as that of the blue lagoon that Adam and Eve shared in Genesis.

 

Constantly, what sparks this debate in public domain particularly in Uganda  are the new reformation Pentecostal pastors that continuously make political acute commentaries on the religious pulpits;

 

Recently, a famous Kampala city based Pastor Bugingo Aloysius who proudly stated ‘President Gen.Yoweri Kaguta Museveni’s NRM will rule Uganda till the unborn babies will die’ at detriment of a larger society which sparked a diatribe from opposition sections.

 

Spiritually and religiously, even a new reformation pastor is a shepherd for all regardless of the political ideologies, however such acute statements can cause political unrest.

 

Unfortunately, new reformation born-again Pentecostal evangelists join a litany of the many religious leaders across the spectrum who have routinely make related political statements at the religious pulpits.

 

Subsequently, many concerned people have come out to caution religious leaders to stay out of politics, ironically forgetting Uganda’s history and other similar precedents across the world.

 

Sadly, “the current government has heavily invested huge resources into the new reformation churches to hoodwink the impoverished peasantry masses by blaming all failures and atrocities on to the Satan”

 

The current political structuring dates back with the arrival of religious missionaries who intentionally paved way for colonisation.

 

Let’s not forget that even the death of the Ugandan Martyrs was a struggle of religion’s penetration into the political structures of Buganda Kingdom under King Mwanga in the late 1800’s.

 

Since the creation of Ugandan boarders by the colonialism, religion has played a cardinal role in Uganda’s political struggles right from colonial days to independence up to-date.

 

The Anglican Church played a fundamental role in installing Apolo Milton Obote as first Prime Minister and Buganda King Sir. Edward MuteesaII as the first President of Uganda.

 

Subsequently, Uganda’s political struggles have been partly orchestrated with help from the hierarchies Anglicans at NamirembeHill, Rubaga Hill, Catholics Nsambya Hill,Muslims at Old Kampala, Nakasero All saints upon the presidency in State House at Nakesero Plot 1.

 

The reverse is also true, all incumbent presidents at Plot 1 Nakasero (State House) have always directly influenced or indirectly meddled into the religious affairs at Namirembe Hill (Church of Uganda) , Rubaga Hill (Catholic Church), Nsambya Hill (Catholic secretariat) ,Old Kampala (Islam faith), Namungoona Hill (Orthodox church) Najjanankumbi (Adventists) and elsewhere in the country.

 

Tragically, religion and political conflicts in Uganda led to the mysterious historical death of Anglican Archbishop Bishop Janan Luwumduring the Idi Amin regime.

 

The conflict between religion and politics arises from people’s allegiance; Religions strongly claims on people’s allegiance but often times this threatens the political demands and interests.

 

Inevitably, religious demands come into conflict with the political demands and the vice versa.

 

Elsewhere in the world; The UK Prime Minister is responsible for selecting the Arch-Bishop of Canterbury while Monarch is the official head of the Church of England.

 

Constitutionally, religion and politics must work towards social cohesion to foster tolerance unity and sustainable development.

 

Holistically, social cohesion must be cognizant of substantial amount of cultural homogeneity in line with certain values and principles.

 

Fundamentally, there should be separation between religion and politics but it seems to be an illusion part from secular developed countries like Sweden.

 

‘My clarion call is, there should be sober discussions and new world order upon the roles each institution plays in each other’ssphere’

 

Historically, this bittersweet marriage between religion and politics is not different from the marriage of beauty and the beast.

 

Robert Kigongo is a democracy deliverer supporting reformers and sustainable development analysts.