Buganda and the Political Parties Up to now, Buganda had not yet accepted political parties; but it seems to have realised that it cannot set itself apart from the rest of the world.

Therefore, the Buganda Government cannot avoid being based on political parties. For you, Catholics, listen to what the Church says of political parties: “The governments of our times are directed by various political parties and here is the warning of the Church to her children on that point: They must never allow themselves to do anything that in their conscience, they see or feel is forbidden by their religion; nor must they give up right practices commanded by the Church, merely because the political party to which they belong rejects them. Catholics must never support what is forbidden by religion, even if a party to which they belong supports it” (Pius XII, 1 July, 1949).

Here we may give an example from this country, such as parties whose aim is to- debar religion from the government of the country, or to rob schools of their religion, or to prevent religion being taught, or practiced in schools. Criteria for the choice of a party On what criteria shall a Catholic base his decision to choose one party or another and to be inscribed as a member? Ask yourselves the questions I have put down here and they will help you to see for yourselves what party you will join.

1. What is the attitude of the party towards religion?

Is the party, as such, founded on anti-religious and anti-Christian principles? This you will find in the manifesto of the party. Each political party has its manifesto, that is, a written statement, which explains the aims of the party. Both the Uganda People’s Congress (UPC) and the Democratic Party (DP) have such a manifesto. In Buganda as in Uganda, the only parties of which I have the manifestos are the UPC and the DP, but I hear that the Uganda National Congress (UNC.) and the Progressive Party (PP) have also a manifesto and that they are properly registered like the UPC and the DP.

Parties which have never produced a manifesto, and which are not recognised by government cannot be considered as parties which you would become members,. “Kabaka Yekka”, (Kabaka alone), “Mwoyo gw’Eggwanga” (Heart of the Nation) are among those which have not yet produced their manifesto and are not yet registered as parties. 2. A second criterium which will help you to recognise an unsuitable party is this. Take a party which has already produced its manifesto and has been registered as well, you may see that it has shown signs or has made statements, which are dangerous because they mislead people about Christian practices or in questions of faith and morals, ask yourself then: “In how far is it harmful to Christian life, to christian belief and to christian morals?” A party which says it will debar religion from government, or rob the Church of her schools, or throw religion out of schools, such a party shows itself to be dangerous to Christian life.

Parties which practice paganism

There are people who have undertaken to go round, saying it is the duty of all to join this or that party. In itself, there is nothing wrong with this and it has to be done as long as it does not add the idea of doing wrong to others.

On the other hand those who want to make propaganda for a party and proclaim publicly that they support that party, but who show by other public activities that they are prepared to be rid of religion altogether, who are seen sacrificing animals on the roads and making other pagan offerings, or even who compose so-called prayers for the Kabaka in which, in fact they invoke all the “Balubale” (genii) of the pagans of old, such a party appears clearly to any Catholic as one about which there can be no doubt whatsoever he is forbidden to join such a party.

However, I am deeply surprised to see that there are Catholics who still call themselves Catholics, and still joining such parties which bring back paganism, and they not only commit themselves entirely to such parties but go round inciting others to join them. The same applies to a party, which is seen inciting people to do wrong to others: a Catholic is not allowed to join such a party, because a Catholic, as a Christian, is always taught that he must love his neighbour and he must fear and avoid doing wrong to others he sees perfectly well that he cannot join such parties.

Registration and Elections for the Lukiiko.

In Buganda the word “kwewandisa” (to register for voting) has been used in the most preposterous ways. It has even led people to abandon their religion because they did not understand its meaning!

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