{UAH} DO RELIGIOUS LEADERS HAVE A RIGHT TO ENGAGE IN POLITICS?

DO RELIGIOUS LEADERS HAVE A RIGHT TO ENGAGE IN POLITICS?

NTV recently broadcasted the journey to parliament of one of the new elected members of parliament known as Father Charles Onen, a former catholic church priest. When he decided to join politics, the bishop of the Catholic church in Gulu dismissed him from his priestly duties on grounds that, the catholic church policy does not allow priests to engage in politics.

WHAT DOES THE LAW SAY?

According to the Constitution of Uganda, every person who is 18 and above has a right to participate in elections (commonly known as politics). However, we all know that certain institutions have policies that limit its subscribers from joining politics for example the church. Maybe this comes from the saying that 'one cannot serve two masters at a go'.

If a religious leader consents to be bound by these rules, then they cannot say they were unfairly treated if they are told to leave that religious institution. It would be a different legal issue if these rules were not existing and the religious leader was forced not to engage in politics. Therefore, the religious leaders have a right to engage in politics as guaranteed in the constitution, but they willingly wave this right by choosing to serve church only through signing the policies. If one wants to engage in politics, they can resign or be dismissed so that they can freely participate without interference with church duties

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"When a man is stung by a bee, he doesn't set off to destroy all beehives"

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