Exclusive: Christian coalition for leadership roasts NUP for promoting sectarianism

Exclusive: Christian coalition for leadership roasts NUP for promoting sectarianism. Whisper Eye Reports

Christian Coalition for Leadership a civil society organisation for Christians has condemned the act of National Unity Platform (NUP) of denying singer Joseph Mayanja popularly known as Dr Jose Chameleone party ticket because of his Catholic religion belief.

Mr Timothy Mayende the National coordinator for the organisation told Whisper Eye news that NUP top leadership must denounce sectarianism and religious bigotry creeping within the ranks of the Party.

According to the NUP score card for Kampala Lord Mayot aspirants Mr Joseph Mayanja and Al-haji Latif Ssebaggala Ssengendo, religion was used as a basis for the selection of a candidate.

The statement of Christian Coalition for Leadership in full;

CHRISTIAN COALITION FOR LEADERSHIP

P.O.Box 2030 Kampala, Kyambogo View, Ntinda Kampala

22th, September, 2020

Press release

Our attention has been drawn to a Comprehensive assessment report of the National Unity Platform (NUP) used as basis for the selection of a candidate for the position of the Lord Mayor of Kampala city.

We are shocked that despite years of political progress, the nation seems to be back where we begun, with the ugly head of sectarianism and religious bigotry rearing itself again.

We observe that this was in the past a practice in the old parties and one would expect a new formation such as NUP to espouse universal democratic practices.

The Constitution of the Republic of Uganda protects every citizen fundamental rights and freedoms.

Article 21 provides for equality and freedom from discrimination, stating that all persons are equal before the law and in all spheres of political, economic and cultural life.

Further that no person shall be discriminated against on the ground of sex, race, colour ethnic origin, tribe, birth creed or religion, social or economic standing, political opinion or disability.

The article further gives detailed meaning of discrimination; which is to give different treatment to different persons attributable only or mainly to their respective descriptions by sex, race, color, ethnic origin, tribe, birth, creed or religion, social or economic standing, political opinion or disability.

By the foregoing, for the NUP EC to conclude that a member of the catholic faith is not favoured to be Lord Mayor of Kampala is illegal, unconstitutional and contrary to the rule of Law.

It is clear that Joseph Mayanja was discriminated by the NUP EC because of his faith and this has no place in modern Uganda.

In regard to politics, the general view in Kampala is that Muslims, who are in the minority in Kampala, have had more than their share of the position of Lord Mayor and that KAMPALA NEEDS A CHRISTIAN MAYOR NOW.

The last population census indicates the following; That Kampala has a population of 1.507.080 of which: 41% are Catholics, 37% are Protestants and 17% are Muslims.

There is no rationale therefore for the conclusion that one professing the catholic faith can’t be favoured by demographics in Kampala.

We wish to denounce the trend NUP is taking and the manner in which its Electoral Commission conducted business.

We expected Hon Kyagulanyi and the top echelon of NUP to denounce sectarianism and religious bigotry creeping within the ranks NUP

Timothy Mayende
National coordinator