Fr. Anthony Musaala, popularly referred to as ‘the dancing priest,’ has vehemently spoken out against the state of politics in Uganda ahead of the 2021 general elections slated for January 14th.
The catholic priest, who commemorated his 25th priestly anniversary at St Gyaviira Catholic Church, Bunnamwaya last year, condemned bluntly the civil unrest, police brutality, violation of human rights and democracy by the different arms of government in Uganda.
“When so much real evil is dressed up in phrases like ‘securing your future’, ‘law and order’, ‘COVID rules’, then prayer is not enough, we must act.” The statement opened.
“No person with even half a brain cell, should tag themselves to a thirty-four year old still-born regime, which wants to continue to misrule our country, but which is worse than our worst nightmare. No catholic and indeed any spiritual person should attach themselves to this power mad, murderous clique, which shamelessly calls itself our government” he continued.
Musaala also urged his fellow clerics to take a front seat and come out publicly to condemn the regime.
“The best we can do now as opinion leaders is a kind of civic education, based on why and how we chose leaders. We must urgently explain to our people in these few days left why it is totally wrong to elect an immoral regime; that is one which has opted for murder, brutality, corruption, theft, nepotism, impunity, lies and demagoguery, as its modus operandi”.
“No more sitting on the fence, dear religious leaders. No more evading an important moral option by averring that ‘God will save us if we pray”. We must now clearly show by word and deed which political organization is NEVER to be voted for, under any circumstances and why,” Musaala added.
His statements come after religious leaders led by Dr. Cyprian Kizito Lwanga, the Archbishop of Kampala and the Chairperson Uganda Joint Christian Council (UJCC), urged government last week to suspend elections.
Lwanga noted that given what is happening in the country, religious leaders under UJCC proposed that the presidential election should be postponed for more three years to first deal with pressing issues (COVID-19) to save Ugandans.
The UJCC brings together the Catholic Church, Church of Uganda and the Orthodox Church.