Clerics in Bunyoro tasked to join fight against corruption

Hoima, Uganda | THE INDEPENDENT | Religious leaders in the Bunyoro sub region have been asked to join in the fight against corruption by ensuring enhanced accountability and transparency.

Speaking during the Validation of Religious and faith organizations-RFO policy frame work at Hoima Resort Hotel on Wednesday, Nicholas Abola, the Commissioner Information and communication in the directorate of Ethics and Integrity says, the fight against corruption should not only be left to government officials and civil society organisations-CSOs. He says the religious leaders too should use their platforms since they have respect and their messages are most respected and adhered too by members of the public.

Abola says, corruption currently is blamed for the underdevelopment in the country since it cripples service delivery to the citizens stating that religious leaders across the country should jealously condemn the act that is drawing back the country’s economic growth.

He says the church has a mandate to challenge and speak out against corruption stating that Corrupt tendencies permeate all institutions and cultures in the world, leading to general decline in sustainable development.

According to Abola, the church has a moral and social obligation to fulfill its prophetic mission of fighting corruption that he says has become an impediment to sustainable development.

He says the fight against corruption is to strengthen the social fabric and influence anti-corruption fighters to stand firm in nailing the perpetrators of the vice. Abola

also appealed to religious leaders to actively engage in discussions about wealth creation, asserting that it is not in line with godliness to have unemployed individuals living in poverty.

He adds that the religious leaders should ensure that people are economically empowered for effective transformation of their livelihoods.

He appealed to the religious leaders to be ambassadors of peace, unity and ensure harmonious co-existence for the country to prosper.

Abola challenged the religious leaders to help fight moral decay amongst Ugandans and teach children good moral values stating that most parents have neglected their duties of instilling good values and norms into their children since the parents tend to be too busy with work.

Sheik Sulaiman Abdu Bwayo, the district Kadhi Kiryandongo says, they would be at the forefront of fighting corruption, but they are not facilitated yet they have meager resources.

Rev. Canon Francis Barongo from Bunyoro Kitara Diocese says, the religious leaders have got many platforms of fighting corruption but government has not considered and facilitated them fully like other agencies involved in fighting corruption.

The religious faith Organisations-RFO policy is envisaged to enhance collaboration between RFOs and government and also to promote their full participation in enhancing social service delivery, rebuilding ethics and integrity, fighting corruption as well as transparency and accountability.

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