IRCU concludes consultative meetings

The Inter-Religious Council of Uganda (IRCU) has concluded consultative meetings for religious leaders aimed at mapping out their role and contribution towards building Uganda in last 50 years and the next 50 years.

This consultative process has enabled religious leaders to build consensus on their unique role in nation building and lay a fresh foundation for effectively living out this role in the next fifty years. It provided space for religious leaders agree on a common framework to guide them as they engage with peace, justice and governance issues at all levels of society.

The consultation took place in 17 regions namely; Ankole, Busoga, Bunyoro, West Nile, Acholi, Lango, Teso, Karamoja, Bukedi, Elgon, Kigezi, Rweonzori, Buganda which was divided into 5 clusters. These were

Cluster one; Masaka, Rakai, Sembabule, Lwengo, Kalangala, Kalungu and Bukomansimbi

Cluster two; Mityana, Mubende, Kasanda and Kiboga

Cluster 3; Mukono, Kayunga, Buikwe, Buvuma

Cluster four; Kampala, Wakiso, Mpigi

Cluster five; Luwero, Nakasongola, Nakaseke

Now that the consultative phase has been completed, a shared vision, set of value, and moral standards will be drawn out of the views and recommendations by religious leaders from each region. These will be compiled, published and validated in a national conference for senior religious leaders to be held in September 2012.

At the validation conference, the religious leaders will commit themselves to disseminating the agreed shared values, standards through their structures at all levels of society. In so doing, they will ensure these standards are internalized by the people and become the benchmarks by which they will judge their own conduct, and performance. It will also prompt religious institutions to examine themselves in light of these expectations and therefore become mutually accountable to each other and to their members.