The Anglican Peace & Justice Network Meeting
14-21st April Seoul South Korea
The Province of Church of Uganda Country Concerns
General Introduction: Uganda was under British Protectorate for over 75 years until 1962 when she was granted political independence. A land locked country, lying in the heart of the Great Lakes region, it has a common border with Sudan to the north, Kenya to the east, Tanzania & Rwanda to the south and Democratic Republic of Congo (former Zaire) to the west. The last population census was carried out in 1991 and the number of people then was 17.8 million. With a population increase rate of over 2.5% per annum, it is estimated that we are now about 20 million people, of whom 60% are young people under the age of 15 years. Only 11.1% are considered urbanized, the rest of people live in rural areas deriving their livelihood from subsistence agriculture. However, there is a serious problem of rural-urban migration with hope of finding job opportunities, which are totally lacking. Unemployment stands at 66% while life expectancy rate was fallen to 47 years.
Religious Situation:
Uganda is a Christian dominated country as illustrated by the following statistics:
Anglicans 39.9% or 7.98 million
Roman Catholics 43.4% or 8.68 million
Moslems 10% or 2 million
Orthodox 1% or 200,000
Others (Pentecostal & Traditionalists) 5.7% or 1.14 million
Total 100% or 20 million
Uganda's political problems started in 1966 when the then Prime Minister, Milton Obote overthrew the President Edward Mutesa, suspended the Constitution and abolished long established traditional kingdoms. Obote was overthrown by his army commander General Idi Amin in 1971. This made a serious turning point as the country entered the dark years 1971-79 and then 1980-85. Amin was removed from power by use of arms in 1979, and Obote returned to power in 1980 under elections, which were considered rigged. A Guerrilla Warfare was waged by Yoweri Museveni.
In 1986, the National Resistance Army of Yoweri Museveni captured state power and promised a fundamental change. The regime brought in some relief (sanity), restored relative peace in most parts of the country. However, the previous forces and disgruntled people have continued to cause trouble in Northern and western parts of Uganda using Sudan and Congo respectively as launching grounds. This of course has led to suffering of people especially women and children in the affected areas, diversion of resources and waste of valuable time.
Museveni's political wing, the National Resistance Movement came to power on the ticket of human rights and democratization of the country right from the grass root. The government has tried to observe, preserve and guarantee human rights and dignity and introduced democratization at all levels. We have leaders of our choice. A new national constitution was promulgated in October 1995. The constitution gives all the power to the people and recognizes all basic freedoms. It limits the presidency to two terms of five years each. But, it restricts the work of multipartism or pluralism.
Ugandans are to decide in a referendum whether to go multiparty or remain under the current non-party system next year (2000). This referendum issue has generated a lot of debate, which is a healthy and democratic development.
4.0 Economy: Uganda's economy is dependent on inflows from IMF/World Bank. The government budget is financed 60% by loans and grants from outside. The economy was reigned during Amin's regime and reconstruction/rehabilitation has been an uphill task both for government and the people. Government has had to borrow heavily to rebuild some hospitals, roads, the airport, etc. The country's indebtedness is approaching $4 billion and debt servicing takes over 40% of GDP. Local income is generated from sale of agricultural products like coffee, cotton, tea, tobacco and animal and fish products.
Poverty is rampant and over 68% of the people live below poverty line, which has been put at $1 per day and $365 annually. 90% cannot afford to buy new cloth; they depend on second hand products ranging from shoes to bed sheets. Only 34% of the women can read and write. The percentage for me is slightly higher (56%). Despite government's deliberate policy of gender balance, the girl-child will have to time to catch up due to cultural carstraints or limitation, early marriages and poverty.
As noted earlier, unemployment is high, and this has led to brain drain. Many graduates who cannot find jobs end up in other countries while the professionals and experts also migrate for greener pastures. Thus Uganda is faced with a vicious cycle of poverty. Indeed, there is a linkage between poverty, indebtedness and insecurity, which we continue to experience. Due to structural adjustment programs imposed by IMF, security forces have been demobilized; those demobilized cannot easily find employment. They end up joining the rebel groups. Government responds by buying more arms to contain the security threats instead of investment in the deprived sectors of social service, education, health, housing, water, etc.
Thus the SAPS have brought suffering, misery and increased deprivation. A lot of civil servants who have been retrenched cannot find alternative employment because the economy is really shrinking. Some of these people have experienced family instability and broken homes.
The biggest challenge in this era is HIV/AIDS. It is estimated that over 2 million Ugandans are infected with the virus that causes AIDS. The government adopted an open policy; churches and NGOs have been involved in awareness campaigns to help people protect themselves. Those who are already sick and lack means are suffering while those who can afford the expensive treatment finally leave their family in abject poverty. The disease came to compound the poverty situation. In addition to increased poverty, we have thousands and thousands of orphans and for the first time we are talking of child-headed families where an orphan of say 12 or 13 is caring for her/his young ones.
The mission of the Anglican Church in Uganda is to "carry out Christ's mission of preaching, teaching, healing and nurturing her people so that they may have abundant life and build an evangelistic loving, caring, worshipping, peaceful and a just community." To realize this vision, the Church has initiated and implemented a number of programs. One of such programs is the Grassroot Development Program, which I happen to serve. The focus of this program is poverty reduction. This is intended to support the efforts of the community in their fight against poverty. The program components and supplements include the following:
-Agricultural development (crop production)
-Livestock development
-Small scale (cottage industries)
-Environmental conservation and protection
-Savings and credit shemes
-Adult education
-Universal primary education
-Peace and human rights
-Food security
-Orphans development program
-Relief & rehabilitation program for the uprooted people (emergency program)
The last five are complementary/supplementary programs.
Great importance has bee attached to the peace and human rights program. Peace and respect for human rights are the prerequisite for sustainable development. There are challenges ahead of us but with solidarity and support of our partners, we are determined to make a contribution hence a difference. Together we shall overcome, and this is our premise for the intervention we are making in His name.
By Frank Rwakabwohe
Church of Uganda, Kampala
