Uganda Must Learn to Reward Courage, Not Punish Dialogue

What the report says

In an opinion piece published by Nile Post, David Jeb Kuteesa reflects on the public reaction to a meeting between religious leaders and the Patriotic League of Uganda (PLU), held on Friday, November 6, 2026. The article argues that the gathering should be understood as an attempt at dialogue rather than an endorsement of the PLU, and says criticism on social media has often ignored context.

Kuteesa says a range of Christian leaders attended the session, including Apostle Grace Lubega, Dr. Joseph Sserwadda, Bishop Odong and other clergy from several denominations. He also notes that Muslim leaders were invited but one reportedly did not attend because the meeting fell on a Friday. According to the article, the discussions included concerns about abductions, leadership ethics, national reconciliation, human rights and the need for clearer engagement between aspiring leaders and faith institutions.

The piece states that PLU denied any involvement in disrespectful or subversive commentary directed at the church or born-again Christians. It also says Apostle Lubega’s comments describing PLU as non-abusive, non-subversive and non-violent were meant in an institutional church context, not as a general public declaration. The author warns against reducing complex talks to short clips and viral commentary.

More broadly, the article says Uganda should protect spaces for constructive dialogue and allow religious leaders to speak freely without intimidation. It points to a planned National Prayer Day on 18 January 2027 as a possible opportunity for faith leaders to articulate expectations around accountability, peace and public service.