THE arrest of a retired Bishop who was protesting about
corruption in Uganda has sparked outrage among civil-rights
organisations.
The retired Assistant Bishop of Kampala, the Rt Revd Dr Zac
Niringiye, was distributing newsletters with other activists from
the Black Monday movement, a group that seeks to expose corruption,
at Makerere University, in Kampala.
Bishop Niringiye was arrested with other activists for handing
out "subversive" material, the police said. All were later released
on bail, and the Bishop was due to return to court yesterday to
answer charges.
The Bishop, who has a reputation for being outspoken, has
previously called on the President, Yoweri Museveni, to throw out
his friends in government. The Bishop accused them of being
"embellished with corruption".
The director of mission at the Anglican Communion Office, the
Revd John Kafwanka, praised Bishop Niringiye's stance. He said that
the Bishop was "forthright", but "we need more Christians to stand
for what Bishop Zac stands for, to speak against wrongdoing. . .
Where corruption is found, God's people should stand up and speak
up from a position of integrity."
The executive director of the Ugandan National NGO Forum,
Richard Ssewakiryanga, said: "The police high-handedness in
arresting the Bishop and other volunteers was not necessary,
because they were not inciting violence."
A survey by the World Bank estimated that Uganda loses about
$200 million a year through corruption; last year, the bank began
reviewing its development assistance to the country.