By Kabuye Ronald
The Antiochian Orthodox Catholic Church (AOCC) Presiding Bishop, Jacinto Kibuuka, has called on the government to put proper plans in place for street and roadside vendors before evicting them, criticizing the current operations as harsh and inhumane.
Delivering his Easter Sunday homily at Mamre International Prayer Centre in Janda, Namugongo, Kira Municipality, Wakiso District, Bishop Kibuuka warned that evicting vendors without offering alternative workplaces could lead to increased criminal activity across the country.
“Those being evicted in a barbaric manner from different streets across the country are our people, people we work with, who vote for us, and whom we counsel and preach the Gospel to,” he said. “They are filled with sorrow and misery. These businesses have been their source of school fees, food, and family support. Many have loans, including under the PDM. How will they repay them? What plans has the government made to support them?”
He cautioned that the country risks experiencing a surge in theft and other crimes due to what he described as poorly planned evictions. While emphasizing that he supports order among traders, the bishop questioned the lack of clear alternatives for displaced vendors.
“We are not against organized trade, but we ask: where have you planned for them to work from? Even the manner in which these evictions are being carried out is unacceptable and may lead to violence. Uganda, the Pearl of Africa, should not witness such actions. Government must plan first before implementing such measures,” he added.
Bishop Kibuuka also urged leaders at all levels to exercise compassion in their leadership. “Leaders should strive to share in the tears of their people rather than cause them more suffering. These are the people God entrusted to us, and we must lead them with kindness, not harshness. Only then will God bless our nation with peace and freedom,” he said.
He further called on Ugandans to pray for the country and the world, referencing ongoing conflicts between Iran and Israel, where lives and property continue to be lost. “No one deserves to take another’s life whether young or unborn. Such acts cause pain and suffering and are against God’s will. Let us pray for peace, renewal, forgiveness, and reconciliation, especially during this Easter season,” he said.
Meanwhile, Francis Xavier Bbossa, Chairperson of the Board of Trustees, echoed the bishop’s message and urged parents to guide and protect their children from the challenges of today’s world.
He also revealed that preparations are underway for a series of meetings to mark 10 years of the church’s existence in Uganda.
