By Nasser Kayanja
Bishop Herbert Buyondo has urged traditional leaders to embrace their role as custodians of African culture and use their positions to promote unity among their subjects.
Buyondo, the Bishop of Kampala Born Again Churches, made the remarks while celebrating the new reign of the Omukama of Tooro, His Majesty Rukidi Kaboyo Nyabongo I.
He said African traditional institutions should remain rooted in the continent’s cultural values and urged traditional leaders to recognise the role they play in preserving heritage beyond the boundaries of individual kingdoms and chiefdoms.
Buyondo said traditional leaders, like religious leaders, are entrusted with responsibilities that distinguish them from the wider community and therefore have a duty to promote harmony and social cohesion.
He noted that intermarriages among communities have increasingly blurred cultural and geographical boundaries, making unity important among Africans regardless of their kingdom or chiefdom affiliations.
The bishop urged the Omukama to avoid involvement in disputes between different cultural institutions and instead concentrate on uniting the people of Tooro.
He also encouraged the monarch to maintain a cordial relationship with his subjects and avoid confrontations that could create divisions within the kingdom.
Buyondo, who also oversees Victory Covenant Church in Namungoona, Kampala, called on civil servants to separate their personal interests and emotions from their official responsibilities.
He made the remarks while raising concerns over what he described as the demolition of churches, saying investigations by the church had raised questions about whether some actions were being driven by personal interests.
He urged public officials to exercise professionalism and fairness when carrying out their duties.
In a related message, Buyondo cautioned bloggers and social media personalities against using offensive or abusive language simply to attract attention and generate likes.
He said reckless online comments could damage relationships and have long-term consequences for those involved.