Separation of religion and politics: Uganda’s leadership challenge

Abstract

From time immemorial to this day, politics and religion have had unstable relations which, from time to time, need different interventions. Causes to this affairs that make relations sour and bitter are many. They keep on varying from principles, ideology, political policies, to personal temperament, from greed for power, greed for wealth, from malice to hatred. But what is central to all these wrangles between religious and political leaders is that they both claim one and the same recipient of their services ‘that man and women’.

This phenomenon poses a leadership challenge in Uganda in trying to strike a balance between religion and politics. Consequently the research was set out to study separation of religion and politics as Uganda’s leadership challenge.

The study aimed at establishing the relationship between politics and religion and strategies to mitigate conflicts between them in management of society in Uganda. Much interest was also in finding out whether religion and politics are different or need to be separated.

It has been realized that separation of religion and politics can only be a dream as evidence has shown that the two are very tied together and go hand-in-hand and any attempt to separate them can only cause damage to society.

It has been further realized that separation of church/ mosque and state (politics) is difficult because it is impossible to draw a line between religion and politics as me and you in the name of being religious and a political animal.

In light of the above, the findings have been written in the research report and some recommendations have been made. The researcher hopes that if these are implemented, they can go a long way to bring about more positive results in Uganda.

The researcher tailored his findings to the research questions of this study; the study findings are a treasure to the religious leaders, political leaders, social scientists, students of leadership and religious studies as well as any member of the public with an interest in this particular subject of the study.