By KT Reporter
The National Unity Platform’s head of training and ideology, Andrew Muwanguzi, has authored a book entitled ‘Like Jesus’, “living like and from Jesus,”. Muwaguzi, who also doubles as a pastor, renowned for training fellow church leaders on leadership skills, says that this book has offered him a platform for reaching out to church leaders, most of whom have chosen silence at the expense of their followers’ well-being.
Muwaguzi says that Jesus Christ, whom these church leaders profess and believe, was intentional regarding bettering the social well-being of his people. He says that, through his teachings, Jesus fed his followers with both words of wisdom and physical food to save them against hunger, a norm which modern church leaders ought to emulate.
Muwaguzi states that, under prevailing circumstances of human rights violations, church leaders should be seen standing with the oppressed, not only through preaching sermons of hope, but also as the power bearers to tone down what he termed as high-handedness. Citing the scriptural teachings in Isaiah 9:6, where Jesus is described as the Prince of Peace, Muwaguzi in his book seeks to enlighten the church on their key role in peace building through closely holding a constant watch over prevailing leaders of the day, cautioning them to treat their subjects with respect.
Muwaguzi further cites Jesus’ crucifixion as a selfless act of noticing a dying world and coming through to save the same through his death. In this, he urges church leaders to hold fast to their stewardship role beyond the weekly altar sermons, but rather redirect their voices towards calling upon power bearers to refrain from causing human suffering.
Muwaguzi, who in one of the chapters shares his 2020 ordeal of being abducted by security forces, says that these sufferings never toned him down, but he rather continued speaking the truth to power nonetheless. He says that this form of courage amidst intimidation strengthens the body of Christ to stay hopeful for better days, where they can enjoy remarkable freedom in all aspects of life.
However, Muwaguzi says that his book also seeks to preach moral sanity within the wider public, a key tenet for nation building. Muwaguzi says that his behavioral aspects depend on how the wider public responds to injustices and how best they can defend the rights of others when entrusted with power.
On his part, the NUP secretary general, Lewis Rubongoya called upon church leaders to openly rise up against abductions and other forms of human rights violations. “Dictators like Mr. Museveni don’t listen to the court and the like, but they rather require collective voices from all, with religious leaders inclusive,” he says.
Rubongoya says that this unity of faith against human rights violations is a true emulation of the life of Jesus, who defended the general well-being of people to the extent of giving up His life for them.
Rubongoya adds that the true heart of fellowship is better realized when religious come through to be counted on the side of the oppressed at all times.
Meanwhile, the Bishop of Busoga diocese, Rt. Rev. Paul Naimanhe says that, his pastoral life has been evidenced by listening to all individuals irrespective of their political parties. Naimanhe believes that, some church leaders like himself have used their altars to speak against all manner of sin including human rights violations, but adhering to these teachings rests entirely on the end recipients of the message.
He adds that, “we have taught bible messages of peace to all people regardless of political affiliations, the ‘oppressed’ and ‘oppressors’ alike, with the desire of them applying this message rightly for the betterment of their communities,”URN. Give us feedback on this story through our email: kamwokyatimes@gmail.com
