President Yoweri Museveni has told religious leaders who critize his political decisions that they lack the competencies to lecture him about how to rule the country. He said that clerics should desist from making misguided statements in the public and instead engage him on their concerns.
Museveni was responding to remarks by Bishop of Rwenzori Diocese, Rt Rev Reuben Kisembo during the commissioning of the Shs 3 billion Elizabeth Chapel at Kyebambe Girls Secondary School in Kabarole district on Saturday.
At the event, Bishop Kisembo reiterated his previous appeal, and asked President Museveni to consider retiring from Presidency for the good of the country and for his own good. The cleric was among the religious leaders who criticized Museveni for supporting the constitutional amendment to repeal the Presidential age limit.
However, in response, President Museveni condemned the Bishop for provoking him and other politicians.
“There is time for everything and to everything, there is a season. I keep hearing religious leaders provoking us and me in particular. This is because i am somebody who knows what am doing,” the President said in his remarks.
“I don’t think there are many people who can lecture me about what to do for Ugandans. Because to lecture, you must have qualifications to lecture,” he added.
He said that the idea that religious leaders can publicly make political criticism isn’t the best way to manage society. Instead, the President called for a disciplined interaction between the political and the religious leadership in which their concerns can be aired out.
“So, this cursing every time is not good. It should stop. I have invited religious people to come and we talk thoroughly,” Museveni added.
“We are not little children to begin exchanging words. That isn’t the best way to manage society,” he said, adding that “we can talk about these issues in our circles so that when we speak in public, we talk about the issues we agreed upon”.
At the event, the President contributed Shs 300 millions towards the completed chapel.
