Kampala – The Archbishop of the Church of Uganda Dr. Samuel Stephen Kazimba Mugalu has called for dialogue to end attacks on security personnel and abductions in the country.
Kazimba who was delivering his Christmas sermon at All Saints Cathedral Kampala said nothing is unsolvable once dialogue is embraced.
The Archbishop’s call follows recent attacks on police officers, soldiers, and private security guards while on duty. The assailants have shot more than 10 police officers, soldiers, and private security guards and taken their firearms.
The Inspector General of Police, Martin Okoth Ochola blamed these attacks on the Allied Democratic Forces (ADF) and the Uganda Coalition For Change (UCFC), a self-styled rebel group.
Ochola noted that with collaborative efforts of the joint security partners, his leadership team, all territorial commanders and frontline officers, they have been able to counter, disrupt and dismantle the criminal elements behind these acts of hostility and violence.
But Kazimba says all such incidents point to the fact that there is a problem that is growing and only dialogue could lead to an everlasting solution.
“We condemn evil acts of attacking security officers, electricity vandalism and abducting people in the country. We need to come up with proper ways of addressing these challenges. If there’s any aggrieved party, they should forward their grievances to the government and also be paid attention to,” said Kazimba
Meanwhile, the man of God also called for special care of the boy child in order to produce responsible husbands and citizens.
“We need to give special attention to the boy child to understand that a man was created to be responsible, to take care of his family among other responsibilities if we are to have a better country,” he said
This, he noted will also reduce domestic violence since men who are not mentored well are fond of assaulting their wives.
Commenting on the matter, Nathan Twesigye Itungo, the Kashari South Member of Parliament who attended Christmas prayers at All Saints Cathedral Kampala emphasised the need to have inclusive policies that cater for both girls and boys.
In an interview with LBS Newsday, MP Itungo said “There’s no campaign, no organisation, no policy no nothing even in the Gender Ministry that caters for the boy child. All polices are protecting girls. But now if you are a good girl and you get a bad boy what do you produce? It’s high time we also focused on the boy child in all the polices, campaigns and in whatever we are doing.”
Christmas is an annual festival commemorating the birth of Jesus Christ, observed primarily on December 25 as a religious and cultural celebration among billions of people around the world.