Thursday, June 29, 2006
Beyond Kony?
It was yesterday 29/06/06, that Kony affirmed to have talked to a journalist for the first time. This beats the so-called journalists who claimed to have talked to the man there before.

Being interviewed by BBC, when asked about the killing and mutilation caused by him in the North of Uganda, in his Acholi-accented english, Kony says, "This is not true. I cannot cut the ear of my brother; I cannot kill the eye of my brother. I cannot kill my brother, that is not true".

Kony in the above sentiments tries to forget what he told one of the abductee as noted in BBC website (http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/africa/3462901.stm ) "If the Acholi don't support us, they must be finished,"

This time round, Kony is defending himself that stories of Lord Resistance Army (L.R.A) rebels cutting off people's ears or lips and abducting the children were Ugandan government propaganda.

It is now 20 years that Joseph Kony has been in the bush fighting for the institution of the ten bible commandments. But which Ten Commandments is Kony fighting to institute in Uganda? Are they the ones that are written in the bible or it is what he interprets from it? This reminds me of the Jihadists or Al qaeda who are trying to institute ‘Sharia’ almost everywhere and they end up killing the innocent people.

Anyway president Museveni says that Mr. Kony has until the end of July to end the war and said his safety would be guaranteed. But really, which safety is Mr. president talking about, is to hand over Kony to The Hague? And if the end of July comes and Kony does not come out, what next?

Kony does not trust Museveni as Museveni does not trust Kony. Yeah, Kony has fear at the moment that there is no more safe ground for his missions and he feels that very soon he will be no more. This is why he has asked the Government of Southern Sudan to facilitate talks between him and the government of Uganda, claiming that he would wish to put an end.

So, what are the unanswered questions that we should focus on Kony peace talks: who has been funding his mission in North Uganda and beyond? Who has been giving him the arms? What will be the penalty to Kony-sponsors’?, Will the people of Uganda, in particular the North Uganda ever recover socially, physically and psychologically? What next from Uganda government when L.R.A is over?

* Pictures got from http://static.flickr.com and http://ugandawatch.blogspot.com
 
posted by ombui at 6:26 AM | Permalink | 5 comments
Tuesday, June 13, 2006
Who? Kakande, Kayiwa or Male?
This Monday, I was lucky to watch one of the Nigerian Movies entitled " Church Business". The key thing in that movie is the way people decide to join the ministry, especially pastory to mint money no matter what it takes. The movie gives a case where the search for money fails, but the pastors get an option; power from the devil to perform miracles and gain popularity.

Later, we see preachers from nothing to something (riches); beings in the society just because Satan has sown a seeds in them. What a remedy?

The "Church business" accidentally gives me a flashback of what was on the The Sunday Monitor where Simeon Kayiwa of Namirembe Christian Fellowship, Imelda Namutebi of Liberty Worship Centre, Lugala, Rev. Godfrey Lule of Blessed Temple, Kawanda, and Prophet Samuel Kakande of Synagogue Church of all Nations, Mulago are accused of practicing witchcraft and extort money from their flock.

The accuser, Pastor Moses Solomon Male of Arising for Christ Ministries hints on how Pastor Kayiwa and Prophet Kakande got nails and clothes of the deceased, Prophet John Obiri Yeboah and the constant homage to his grave in Ghana seeking for power to perform miracles.

Pastor Male, who seems informed more than we think, claims that some pastors also go beyond the African continent like to the Church of Satan in United States of America.

The above sentiments really puzzles Christians mainly those who are so tied to the mentioned pastors. The same problem does not exclude the people from other churches because it might be the prophecy is getting fulfilled of where by in the last days there will be false prophets.

But let us have a close look on what Christians should do. We have to understand we are all sinners on earth and that the remedy towards righteousness is Christ the almighty not our works. Am not saying Kakande, Kayiwa and many others who are alleged to be engaged in the witchcraft should not continue in it. They should ask Christ to help them out of such false guidance from Satan, if true.

Christians should pray so much for the Church, read the Bible and focus on Jesus Christ so much other than concentrate on who is powerful or who is right, because no man is right before the Lord.

Let no one be blinded by the miracles that ignite false allegiance to Christ. Let's love the Lord with our sincere hearts like the way the three Hebrew Boys did before the king of Babylon- Nebuchadnezzar.

All in all, Kakande, Kayiwa or Male do not make sense to any Christian but Christ makes sense.
 
posted by ombui at 2:29 AM | Permalink | 12 comments
The New breed of first East African Ladies
It is not a shock to see the Kenyan first lady Lucy Kibaki intention to vie for MP in the coming 2007 election. We thank God she did not claim she was sent and anointed by God like the way the Uganda’s first lady Janet Museveni said she had been sent to stand for Ruhama constituency.


It was just few days back that ‘Prophetess’ Janet Museveni said that the Husband Yoweri kaguta is a saviour sent by God to liberate Ugandans. Later, FDC’s Anne Mugisha replied Mama Janet saying the spirit of the lord had spoken to her to give a prophecy of doom that Janet’s were false and that her husband’s regime is destined to crumble.

The declaration by Lucy Kibaki, that President Kibaki is the one who has taught her politics was a fair answer to every ear. It is clear that she is utilizing the small chances granted by the President to push her interests…According to the East African Standard (Thursday January 19, 2006) “The First Lady had been invited by President Kibaki to greet the crowd when she made the announcement.” That she will be standing for a position.

It has been so common for the first Kenyan lady clashing with the state house officials, government officials and even journalists. The big wonder is how she is going to manage the colleagues “MP’s” in case she will be in parliament.This has shown clearly that she got no defined role in the Kenyan constitution as a first lady. Mother figures of the nation, is what the public expected out of her. How will she handle the two if she is the first lady at the same time a Member of Parliament?Lucy Kibaki has the right to stand for MP anyway but are we making a dynasty in Kenya? There is high doubt if she is going to sail through to parliament as the way some Ugandans doubt Janet Museveni going to Parliament 2006.

The small knowledge existing points the first ladies to more of community work and an opportunity for service to the less fortunate other than political role. Which heart will the first ladies have for the needy if they venture in politics?Just to note some good examples for these East African first ladies to emulate is Mary Todd Lincoln who spent hours visiting with wounded Civil War soldiers, Lucy Webb Hayes who deeply touched the nation with her compassion for the poor and less privileged and Edith Roosevelt sewed for the needy.

It is true Janet Kataaha Museveni holds a Bachelors of Education degree from Makerere University and a Diploma in Early Childhood Development from Sweden and She has been engaging her self in social development programs. Lucy Muthoni Kibaki has her academic qualifications that are good too and she has made sure projects like Starehe Girls come up. This does not flag them to think they have done enough in terms of serving the needy so they should switch to politics.

Janet and Lucy are Professional teachers they should follow the path of Grace Coolidge who taught the deaf and Eleanor Roosevelt, used their positions to speak out for peace, justice, equality for women and "the needs of the common people". There are many orphanages if Janet and Lucy care.Lets not blame Lucy Kibaki and Janet Museveni, may be they have sensed that their husbands might not be coming back to the state houses. But Museveni might win for the case Uganda as the political situation reads.

The East Africans are waiting to see what the move from Tanzanian first lady Salma Kikwete, if she will maintain the role of the first lady or divert to political spearheadism.

The advice is to be like Rodham Clinton, who became a senator after Clinton’s exit from the White house.
 
posted by ombui at 2:19 AM | Permalink | 2 comments