Allan Turyaguma
27 August 2002
President Yoweri Museveni has warned religious leaders against meddling in national politics.
He said everybody had a specific role to play in the development of the nation and asked the clergy to stick to the saving of people's souls. "I thought that the role of the clergy was to preach and deliver the souls of people to heaven but not politicking," Museveni said.
He was on Saturday speaking at the burial of the remains of the late Erifaazi Laki former county chief of Ibanda who was killed by Idi Amin's soldiers in 1972.
The burial took place at Nyindo, Ndeija sub-county in Mbarara district.
Museveni said he had already physically told some religious leaders to restrain themselves from interfering in politics. "I recently told some clergymen that if they don't leave politics alone, I would also go to Clock Tower and start baptising people because I know the words," he said provoking laughter among the gathering.
As the President spoke, people kept stealing glances at the Bishop of East Ankole diocese Rt. Rev. Elisha Kyamugambi who led the funeral service.
Museveni, however, did not give details on how the clergy were interfering with politics.
Museveni paid glowing tribute to the late Laki and other Ugandans who died in the struggle for peace and democracy in Uganda.
He said those using unconstitutional means to destabilise the country would be hammered to pieces. Museveni said if it were not for bad leadership, people like Laki would not have died. He said the Government would not let some few self-centered people plunge Uganda back into the days of darkness and bad leadership. Ends
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