Despite coming under criticism by a section of religious leaders over her recent visit to a shrine, Speaker Rebecca Kadaga has received support from the boss of herbalists in Gulu.
Juliet Adoch, the Gulu District Chairperson for the National Traditional Healers, Herbalists and Birth Attendants Association says there is nothing wrong with Kadaga’s visit to the shrine as long as it is within her clan’s cultural practices and norms.
According to Christianity came to Africa when the Africans already had their cultural practices.
Kadaga’s recent visit to a shrine to pay homage to her ancestors sparked national debate with some questioning whether her Christian beliefs (she is a protestant) were not in conflict with her traditional beliefs. Kadaga later explained that she visited the shrine to promote tourism.
Kadaga said as a Speaker of Parliament, she is an advocate of cultural and religious tourism.
Juliet Adoch, the District Chairperson for the National Traditional Healers, Herbalists and Birth Attendants Association for Gulu, says there is nothing wrong with Kadaga’s visit to the shrine as long as it is within her clan’s cultural practices and norms.
However Sheik Musa Khalil, the Vice Chairperson Acholi Religious Leaders Peace Initiative (ARLPI), an interfaith based organisation says by visiting the shrine, as a respected leader in the country, Kadaga has misled the young people considering the fact that Uganda is a religious country.
Sheik Khalil says there is a strong link between evil worshiping and shrine, and Kadaga cannot make any excuse that she is not a devil worshipper.
According to Khalil, like those who worship creatures such as the puff adder (snake), Kadaga made a mistake by appearing before a shrine, something which raise doubt in her believe in God.
The visit by the Speaker of Parliament Rebecca Kadaga to a shrine at Nhendha hill in Iganga District has also come under condemnation by the Anglican Church in Uganda.
In a video of her shrine visit which circulated early last week, Kadaga said she had gone to the shrine to inform the jjajjas (ancestors) that she had triumphed. This was moments after being sworn in as Speaker of the 10th Parliament.
2 Comments
Witchcrafts in Acoli, Uganda or elsewhere are the same and nothing new. Even President Museveni admitted he practised it when in the bush war, in order to save the Movement. It is not clear if he or his party has repented and turned to God away from their evil practices. It is also rumoured most members of the ruling party belong to all sorts of cults. There are cults these days which look and sound like true faith in God, but they truly worship Lucifer instead. Lucifer worshipping is a daily occurrence even in high political or other offices in America, Europe and elsewhere.
As for Muslims and Islam, worshipping Mohammed and the Quran is more important than worshipping Allah or God. Like Christians, Islam and the Muslim faith believe in one God, or monotheism. In essence, there is a difference between believing in religion and belief in God. There is also a difference between believing in any god and the true God. It is a matter of faith and the capacity to recognise truth as opposed to error that counts.
Faith in God is not a matter of opinion, but of truth. Truth too is a matter of knowledge as it says: ‘and you shall know the truth and the truth shall set you free.’ It also says, ‘faith comes by hearing and hearing by the word of God.’ What does not suffice is for religious leaders to turn politics into their occupation. In the same vein, politicians should not mix politics with religion. In this context, Speaker Kadaga should concentrate on controlling and guiding the House of Parliament and leave the House of God to clerics and God’s servants.
David Okun
Truth is proven by evidence. What is your evidence that your God is the truth?
Traditional shrine and practice is not all about doing evil. The practioners are just asking for help and giving thanks just like other believers in whatever religion do.
The evils being done in the country are mainly being done by so-called religions coming from outside.