Faith in God, and faith in his Ugandans

Press, 24 June 1978, Page 1

Faith in God, and faith in his Ugandans

An exiled Ugandan Bishop Fetso Kivengere, who last year was at the top of President Idi Amins “murder list,” says that the average Ugandan leads a calm and happy life inspite of the terror around him. Bishop Kivengere, in Christchurch yesterday during a two week speaking tour of New Zealand, said that Westerners often found it very difficult to understand the "peace” which most Ugandans showed. "People who live in countries where there is law and order, where protest is tolerated, where newspapers are free to comment, find it difficult to understand our ordinary people,” he said. "Amin tells journalists to look at the peaceful happy people in the streets,” said Bishop Kivengere. As long as the average Ugandans were able to till their land and grow their crops, they were happy enough to work for the welfare of their country. "But when a man in uniform appears, this represents the Government, and they know they are in danger because there is no protection from the torture and killing.” President Amin was "redeemable as long as he is alive,” said Bishop Kivengere, who is working from his base in California to promote “Operation Return,” a project aimed at educating and training Ugandan refugees ready for the day when they can return to their country. “We hope God’s people in New Zealand will use their prosperity to help suffering people elsewhere,” he said. Bishop Kivengere ruled

out the likelihood that an uprising would overthrow President Amin, but agreed that the regime which ruled by persecution would eventually destroy itself. “It is not a question of an uprising in Uganda; if you are suspected in any way, you are eliminated immediately,” he said. “I have never believed in an armed uprising. They never achieve anything as far as I am con cerned.” A recent report by an Australian journalist who had visited Uganda said that the churches were overflowing, and Christians were proclaiming their faith in public. The centenary of the Christian faith in Uganda was celebrated with “tremendous zeal and joy,” said Bishop Kivengere. More than 25,000 Christians gathered to rejoice in Kampala, onlv four months after the death of the Anglican Archbishop of Uganda, Bishop Janami Luwum. “The Church in Uganda has never been dependent on political events, good or bad. for its survival,” the Bishop said. Bishop Kivengere will > address a youth rally in the Town Hall this even- | ing and will attend three church services tomorrow. On Monday evening he will address an Anglican diocesan rally in the Town Hall. Bishop Kivengere said that the support which the World Council of Churches was giving freedom fighters in Africa was worth while provided it was given to guerrilla fighters as human beings, needing food, clothing and care.