KAMPALA – Heavily armed army and police officers on Thursday morning stationed at St. Luke’s Anglican Church Ntinda, Kampala, to monitor any security breaches as several women leaders converged to launch a national prayer platform for peace in the country.
Dubbed ‘Women4Uganda‘ the platform seeks to rally women to converge every first Monday of the month to pray for the country, which the leaders say is riddled with human rights abuses and oppression.
The prayers were attended by, among others, renowned activist Miria Matembe, former Leader of the Opposition in Parliament Winnie Kiiza and Rev Diana Nkesiga, the retired Vicar of All Saints Anglican Church Nakasero.
Dr Thelma Awori, one of the architects of the platform, said they cannot sit and watch when the country is in chaos.
“We can no longer sit silently when the poor are being dispossessed of their land, brutality on streets, kidnappings, rape of women and young girls, misuse of public funds, abuse of power, our children suffer the worst forms of wickedness,” she said.
Ms Matembe rebuked the security forces of “being idle by coming to keep watch over mere prayers”.
Rev. Nkesiga, who presided over the service, said as Mothers of the Nation, they cannot sit back and watch as the country slides back into its dark history the following political events which unfolded in Arua district two weeks ago and are threatening to plunge the country into anarchy.
“We are not just women but mothers of the nation who have the responsibility to protect the dignity of every human being living in this nation. We have wept long enough,” she said adding that after weeping and waiting for long enough, they are tired of standing by the roadside watching and doing nothing they are rising up in the strength of the Lord to change hearts of Ugandans and the way they think.
“We are coming to repent on behalf of the nation. With prayer, there is an awakening in God’s people and it exposes our weaknesses because many of us are complacent,” she said.
The prayers were organized by Akina Mama Wa Africa a women rights organization seeking justice for victims of violence during elections in Arua under the Women4Uganda platform.
