Interreligious groups in Uganda pray ahead of elections

Over 15 million Ugandans are expected to vote in presidential, parliamentary and local government elections next Thursday, 18 February out of an estimated population of 37 million.

The prayers have been scheduled to begin this Friday, 12 February through to Sunday, 14 February in view of accommodating the various religions and their days of worship in their respective places of worship.

The Muslims were expected to hold their prayers today, Friday while the Seventh Day Adventists have scheduled their prayer day for Saturday, 13 February.

Prayers for peaceful elections by the remaining Christian denominations in Uganda, among them Catholics, Anglicans, Orthodox, Pentecostals, and Evangelicals, have been planned for Sunday, 14 February.

The incumbent, President Yoweri Museveni who has governed Uganda for 30 years, is seeking another five-year term on the ruling party, the National Resistance Movement (NRM),

In 2005, President Museveni won a campaign to lift the constitutional term limits, thus extending his rule.

Kizza Besigye who is the main opposition candidate of the Forum for Democratic Change (FDC) has unsuccessfully stood against President Museveni in three previous presidential elections (2001, 2006, and 2011). He has been reported as saying that voter bribery could be one of the obstacles to his victory.

Another presidential candidate, Amama Mbabazi, who served as Uganda’s Prime Minister between 2011 - 2014 is standing as an independent candidate for the GoForward pressure group. Mr. Mbabazi fell out with President Museveni after announcing his interest in the presidency.

Media reports have indicated that the other five candidates are unlikely to have any meaningful impact on the outcome of the elections.

(By Father Don Bosco Onyalla, Nairobi, CANAA)

Email: engafrica@vatiradio.va

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