afrol News, 23 October - Uganda’s political and religious leaders have been urged to promote peace and unity in the east Africa state for stability and socio- economic development.

Senior Lecturer at the Christian University Mukono, Fred Mwesigwa said political instability and sluggish development arise from the lip-service and cosmetic speeches by many politicians since the country’s independence.

He said the political philosophy of unity in diversity has suffered from political propaganda which attaches importance to the sound of words rather than their meaning.

Mr Mwesigwa said the distribution of goods and services to the public has often been unfairly done from the top level to the grassroots with some groups being favoured over others. “This has caused numerous public and clandestine complaints by Ugandan citizens,” he said.

Mr Mwesigwa said while many politicians have spoken about unity and failed to practice it, most religious leaders have preached love, but not demonstrated it. However, he said the religious leadership cannot be pardoned since not much has been done in forging national unity through preaching the word and action.

"Although the top leadership has, on several occasions, organised inter-religious dialogue sessions at national level, similar meetings have not been replicated at the parish levels,” he said.

Uganda has rebounded from the abyss of civil war and economic catastrophe in 1980’s to become relatively peaceful, stable and prosperous east African state.

In the 1970s and 1980s Uganda was notorious for its human rights abuses, first during the military dictatorship of Idi Amin from 1971-79 and then after the return to power of Milton Obote, who had been ousted by Amin.

By staff writer

© afrol News

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