Children brave the rain to go for prayers at All Saints Cathedral in Kampala

By Vision Reporters

PRESIDENT Yoweri Museveni has “preached” to Libyan President Muammar Gadaffi about the principles of Christianity and the importance of the resurrection of Jesus, according to a press statement by State House.

Gadaffi, who opened Old Kampala mosque last week, irked Christians by disputing the authenticity of the Bible, claiming all reference to the Prophet Mohammed had been removed.

Gulu Catholic Archdiocese Archbishop John Baptist Odama had called Gadaffi’s remarks “provocative” and an insult to Christianity.

But Museveni yesterday clarified that he later taught the Libyan leader about the two fundamental laws of Christianity: To love your God and to love your neighbour as yourself.

“It does not matter which religion one belongs to as long as one fulfils these laws,” the President said during Easter prayers at Nshwere Church in Kiruhura district yesterday, according to the statement.

“I do not believe in competition between religions. After all, God has no religion. God is for us all.” Museveni, who was accompanied by his wife, Janet, said he told Gadaffi that the resurrection of Jesus was important to Christians because it gave them hope for life after death.

Meanwhile, churches yesterday called on Christians to forgive Gadaffi over his remarks.

“Christianity is not about sounding the drums of war,” said Bishop Zac Niringiye during his sermon at All Saints Cathedral.
“The gospel of the Bible is Love. It is an opportunity to show as Christians that we are different.”

Niringiye and visiting Kenyan reverend, Francis Omondi, explained that the Bible did not talk of anybody before he existed. The canons of the Bible were established in 390 after Christ, while Mohammed lived between 610 and 632 after Christ. They said there was no way the life of Mohammed would have been written down before he existed.

“Gadaffi should have explained why Prophet Mohammed told his followers to sit with the people of the Book,” the Rev. Omondi said. “In the Koran, Mohammed tells his followers to listen to Jesus (Issa).”

Kampala Archbishop Cyprian Lwanga, who delivered the Easter mass at Rubaga Cathedral, said Gadaffi’s utterances were the “biggest wound” on the heart of Christians.

He, however, appealed to Christians to heal that wound by forgiving him.
“How can you blaspheme the Bible which has so much bwiino (ink) written by so many people simply because Mohammed is not there?” he asked.

The Bishop of Namirembe, Balagadde Ssekadde, asked the Government to restrain its visitors from making remarks that could hurt its relations with religions.
“When visitors come and make comments that threaten our living together, that is serious.”

By Anne Mugisa, Cyprian Musoke, Flavia Nakaggwa, Joyce Namutebi, Norman Katende, Paul Kiwuwa and Justin Moro in Gulu