ELECTION TENSIONS RISE AS EC FACES BACKLASH OVER CHURCH DONATION BAN

EC Chairman Justice Simon Byabakama (right) emphasizing on the matter during press conference held on Monday in Kampala (Photo by Daily Monitor)

By Martin Anguyo
Arua City

A section of religious leaders and aspiring candidates in West Nile have voiced strong opposition to the Electoral Commission's (EC) recent directive to ban fundraising and donation activities in places of worship during the ongoing election period. The EC argues that such practices amount to indirect voter bribery and risk compromising the integrity of Uganda’s democratic process.

Sheikh Rashid Kalil Ismail of the Kibuli administration stated that, donations made by politicians during campaign periods are not acts of bribery, especially when such contributions are offered openly before the congregation. "We don’t receive bribes in the mosque, whatever we receive in the mosque is open, where each and every one can see because that one there when you give us money, you give us that money for the development we are carrying in that mosque. That one is not termed as buying of votes. Anybody who comes in the mosque and gives me something, then I will receive it" said Sheik Rashid.

Correspondingly, Rev. Fr. Pius Yobuta, the parish priest of Christ the King Parish in Arua, noted that while candidates may contribute financially, such offerings should be made as part of the regular offertory, joint collections, or parish dues — rather than personal donations aimed at winning favor. "There is time for offertory and there is time for paying decima, they can use those times. If somebody wants to donate for the church, you donate outside the church like any other person can donate outside the church but if want to come with aims of campaigning in the church, that one we don’t do it, and will never do it and we have never done it" said Fr Pius Yobuta.

Lenia Charity, who is aspiring to become the Member of Parliament for Vurra Constituency, believes the ban would be more effective during the election period than in the current phase of nominations and campaigns. "If that is what the EC fills, we could put a halt on that during election period only and I have no problem with people giving offertory or money in the church because I am a catholic and when people are giving to the church, it’s a conviction and if EC wants to halt this, I think they should only do it during election period" Lenia believed.

In an effort to reinforce its directive and promote dialogue, the Electoral Commission has announced plans to consult with the Inter-Religious Council of Uganda (IRCU) believing that, collaboration with the IRCU will enhance awareness among religious institutions and help ensure compliance with the new regulations.