Joshua Mugabi
5 October 2008
The church needs to appeal to the government to erase the law on public holidays based on the worship of the moon.
This law was enacted by the government of Idi Amin, whose sole goal was to turn Uganda into an Islamic nation.
Indeed by his presidential decree, Uganda became a member of the Islamic organisation states and recently hosted the Islamic organisation conference in Kampala.
While I subscribe to the principle of freedom of worship and expression, I feel the law that turns every Islamic observance into a public holiday in Uganda is a bad law that needs to be repealed. I feel this law infringes on the right of Christians to conduct and practice their faith without the interference of the government.
It's important to remember that this law was established in the same season that the churches were banned in Uganda and the Archbishop of the Church of Uganda framed for plotting against the then government. He was executed in cold blood. The religion that benefited from these gross acts has never publicly denounced this act by their propagator, an act which leaves a lot to be desired.
While this may not be within the reach of any one leader to guide the nation in the path of mutual coexistence, I believe the government today in the name of religious expression, must revoke the law that infringes on the rights of Christians to express their faith without government patronage. It's wrong for the government to insist that all government and public businesses must come to a standstill to observe a religious holy day for one of the religions in Uganda.
What makes it worse in the end of the fast incidence is that this date is never set in time for reasonable plan adjustment for those who dare to live a life of purpose. It's ridiculous for the government to fail to indicate the date for the holiday weeks in advance in this day and age when we have technology that can forecast the next date for an eclipse.
Is it too hard for the concerned minister to count the designated number of days and declare the public holiday in advance? Why wait for the late night watch to announce a public holiday within a matter of four hours? This is an abuse to purposeful living in this day and age.
While Muslims must do their acts of righteousness in this format - established in the days when there was no scientific ability to establish the moon cycle, Christians need to be liberated from the bondage of the late Idi Amin's dictates. Let the Muslims have their holiday and the Christians continue with their business; after all they are not part of the fast.
I believe Christians must demonstrate their faith in Jesus by ignoring the Islamic holiday and work for the glory of their Saviour. Why should Christian organisations - churches, schools, NGOs and others bow down to this religious observance? Isn't this another way of worshipping the moon instead of the Creator of the moon?
The government needs to give Muslims their freedom to worship but liberate the church from this practice that contradicts the tenets of the Bible. And the church must get out of the Amin terror and demand to live for the God who is greater than the seasons of the moon, without the interference of government.
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