Pope Francis is set to visit Uganda from November 27 – 29, as part of the agenda on his ‘three-country African tour’, adding to the growing list of papal visits he has made since his appointment. Catholics in Uganda are excited about the visit, and Monsignor John Baptist Kauta, the Secretary General of the Uganda Catholic Bishops’ Conference, echoed their emotions by stating what a special privilege it is that the country will be hosting its third pope.
In an interesting highlight of the Pope’s visit, delegates representing members of the Muslim community in the country are also scheduled to meet with him. Hajj Nsereko Mutumba, Head of the Uganda Muslim Supreme Council (USMC), stated that the plan to join Catholics in welcoming the Pope is based on the cordial relationship that both religious groups enjoy.
According to him, the UMSC respects religious leaders, both home and abroad. In addition, he stated that Christians and Muslims need each other to survive, as social or economic problems befall everyone, irrespective of religion. Based on this, he suggests that both groups have to work together to emerge victorious over such problems.
This is not the first time that Uganda is showing its sturdy support for peace and religious unity during such an occasion. In 1993, the Pope John Paul II visited the country, and Al-Haji Tezikuba Sajjabi led the Muslim delegation that met him at a secondary school in Nsambya, on what he terms ‘a day he would never forget’. During this visit, Sajjabi and Pope John Paul discussed improvement in Christian-Muslim relations, as well as measures to ensure sustainability.
The circumstances surrounding the current Pope’s visit to Uganda is an example that evident progress is being made concerning attempts to uphold efforts at religious tolerance in the country.
Before 1980, Uganda was engulfed in various forms of religious strife, such as former dictator, Idi Amin’s attempt to convert the entire country to Islam. Yoweri Kaguta Museveni’s leadership ushered in an era of dialogue between Muslims and Christians, and tolerance between both religions has grown favourably since then.
Religious intolerance, along with resultant conflicts, remains a big thorn in the flesh of Africa (where religion is quite important), albeit a lowly ranked issue. In most countries in Sub-Saharan Africa, the popularity of both Islam and Christianity can be placed at the same level of growth.
Religious conflicts have equally witnessed an unpleasant amount of growth, which contributes in tearing affected countries apart, through insecurity, and accounting for their increasing number of emigrants. These countries, including Nigeria, Sudan, and the Central African Republic, could learn a thing or two from the blossoming Christian-Muslim relations in Uganda, but more importantly, from the efforts of both groups within the country to sustain said relations.
Religious unity or cooperation in African countries would play a significant part in aiding political, social, and economic stability, and fostering peace and economic growth. Therefore, African leaders, both religious and political, need to prioritise addressing religious tensions in their countries, for the better.
As part of the African tour, Kenya and the Central African Republic will also be receiving Pope Francis, between the 25th and 30th of November.
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