Born again churches rush at government over draft policy

A section of born again church leaders have accused the directorate of ethics and integrity of promoting a discriminatory draft policy they say is targeting a specific group of people.

The Directorate is currently validating the religious faith based organizations policy that will foster a culture of accountability, provide a streamlined registration process for all religious Faith Organizations (RFOs) in Uganda.

The policy will also facilitate legal and procedural changes to empower RFOs to contribute effectively to our nation’s development, promote unity amidst diversity, and establish standards that inspire confidence among all stakeholders.

Speaking to KFM, Pastor Martin Ssempa, founder Makerere Community Church said the policy also has expectations of governing them through a government executive appointee of a Minister and yet this does not apply to others.

It is really discriminative because you are having them managed by competitors, so I don’t think that will work we need also to afford born again the ability to self-govern and we should be left to as enjoy our constitutional freedom of worship as well as other religious group. Pr. Ssempa said.

Meanwhile, the permanent secretary, Directorate of ethics and Integrity Alex Okello says the policy will only intends to enforce accountability of what church leaders do.

‘’Accountably that the policy is talking about is total accountability, which is about all leaders everywhere both in government and politics that is the accountably that the document is looking for, everybody should be accountable for whatever they do.” Mr. Okello said.

Accountability of money in churches is only on small thing, the most important to why there must be accountability is the major recourses, and so if the churches become den of thieves as Jesus said will it not over turn tables there?” Mr. Okello added.

Written by Mike Sebalu