Pope Francis commends Uganda for hosting millions of refugees

The President Yoweri Museveni has received a special message from Pope Francis wishing the Ugandan leader and the people of Uganda good life and good political governance.

The Pope also commended Uganda’s spirit for humanity for hosting over a million refugees from South Sudan, the Democratic Republic of Congo and other neighbouring countries.

Fernando Cardinal Filoni, who is the Vatican’s Prefect of the Congregation of Evangelization of peoples, delivered the Pope’s message to the President at State House, Entebbe, accompanied by the Archbishop of Kampala, the Most Rev. Cyprian Kizito Lwanga.

The visiting Cardinal was in Uganda  for the golden jubilee celebrations of Kampala Archdiocese which took place on  Saturday 29th October 2017.

President Museveni welcomed Cardinal Filoni to Uganda and said that the cause of political instability in the region is due to ‘defective ideology’ that promotes politics of identity rather than interests of the people.

“The problem becomes worse when foreigners team up with ‘opportunists and greedy people’ who support divisionism in the region.

“What made Uganda come out of the same political problem was to form students’ movement that emphasised patriotism and pan-Africanism that eventually stabilised the country,” he said.

He said that the permanent solution for the region to stabilise is democracy, electing leaders and formation of national armies.

Visiting Cardinal Filoni called for paying attention and at least listening to the Pope’s call on the people of the region to try and settle political instability without expecting other people from out to do it for them.

He requested President Museveni to spearhead that cause so that people can appreciate the fact that enough is enough.

Kampala Archbishop, Most Rev. Dr.  Cypriano Kizito Lwanga, thanked President Museveni and the Movement government for the support extended to the Catholic Church, especially in the construction the Martyrs shrines.