At
the National Jubilee Prayers in Namboole, President Yoweri Museveni
made history when he openly repented his sins and the sins of Uganda, a
move that has excited many religious leaders. Moses Mulondo brings you the prayer verbatim
Father God in heaven, today we
stand here as Ugandans, to thank you for Uganda. We are proud that we
are Ugandans and Africans. We thank you for all your goodness to us.
I stand here today to close the
evil past and especially in the last 50 years of our national leadership
history and at the threshold of a new dispensation in the life of this
nation. I stand here on my own behalf and on behalf of my predecessors
to repent. We ask for your forgiveness.
We confess these sins, which
have greatly hampered our national cohesion and delayed our political,
social and economic transformation.
We confess sins of idolatry and
witchcraft which are rampant in our land. We confess sins of shedding
innocent blood, sins of political hypocrisy, dishonesty, intrigue and
betrayal.
Forgive us of sins of pride,
tribalism and sectarianism; sins of laziness, indifference and
irresponsibility; sins of corruption and bribery that have eroded our
national resources; sins of sexual immorality, drunkenness and
debauchery; sins of unforgiveness, bitterness, hatred and revenge; sins
of injustice, oppression and exploitation; sins of rebellion,
insubordination, strife and conflict.
These sins and many others have
characterised our past leadership, especially the last 50 years of our
history. Lord forgive us and give us a new beginning. Give us a heart to
love you, to fear you and to seek you. Take away from us all the above
sins.
We pray for national unity.
Unite us as Ugandans and eliminate all forms of conflict, sectarianism
and tribalism. Help us to see that we are all your children, children of
the same Father. Help us to love and respect one another and to
appreciate unity in diversity.
We pray for prosperity and
transformation. Deliver us from ignorance, poverty and disease. As
leaders, give us wisdom to help lead our people into political, social
and economic transformation.
We want to dedicate this nation
to you so that you will be our God and guide. We want Uganda to be known
as a nation that fears God and as a nation whose foundations are firmly
rooted in righteousness and justice to fulfil what the Bible says in
Psalm 33:12: Blessed is the nation, whose God is the Lord. A people you
have chosen as your own.
I renounce all the evil
foundations and covenants that were laid in idolatry and witchcraft. I
renounce all the satanic influence on this nation. And I hereby covenant
Uganda to you, to walk in your ways and experience all your blessings
forever.
I pray for all these in the name of the Father, Son and the Holy Spirit. Amen.
Religious Leaders React
The Church of Uganda Archbishop
elect, Stanley Ntagali said the prayer was a step in the right
direction. That it was appropriate for the head of state to repent of
his sins and the sins of Ugandans.
The leader of Pentecostal
churches, Apostle Alex Mitala, said the prayer was the beginning of the
healing of a nation. “All the nations we read about in the Bible were
healed when their leaders repented and acknowledged God’s supremacy,” he
said. Mitala urged Ugandans to turn away from their wicked ways.
Pastor Dr. Martin Kalibbala of
New Testament Covenant Church warned that the fruits of repentance are
what matter. “If you repent of stealing, God expects you to immediately
stop stealing. If the President’s repentance is genuine, it will be
measured on God’s yardstick of bearing the fruits of repentance,” he
said.
Pastor Dr. Martin Ssempa of
Makerere Community Church said it was a good thing for the President to
repent on his behalf and on behalf of the nation. He commended those who
encouraged and helped the President prepare the prayer, adding that God
will answer it.
“We hope the President’s repentance will result into greater obedience to God by the executive, which he heads.
source:newvision
source:newvision
