President Yoweri Museveni has repented of his sins and the sins of Uganda as a nation in a move aimed at establishing Uganda as a God-fearing nation. Museveni made this historic move at the Mandela National stadium Namboole on 8 October 2012 during national prayers for dedicating Uganda to God. This year Uganda celebrates 50 years of independence.
“I denounce witchcraft and satanic practices. I repent on behalf of Uganda. We confess our sins. We repent of the sins of shedding innocent blood, corruption, bribery, sexual immorality, drunkenness, rebellion, insubordination, tribalism and sectarianism,” Museveni repented amidst ululations from the Christians. The president dedicated Uganda to God to be his nation anchored on his principles and values.
Museveni, indicating that the next 50 years belong to the young generation, advised the young people to be God-fearing, referring to the verse in Proverbs 9:10 which says, “The fear of God is the beginning of wisdom.” For the young people who are still in school, he used Ecclesiastes 3:1 which says there is time for everything, to advise them to concentrate on their books and abstain from sex. For those who have completed studies, he advised them to look for more skills, jobs, and start families established on God’s principles. He advised the youth to keep fit through physical exercises and sports activities and to help their parents.
The prayers were organized by Uganda Jubilee Network, an association of Anglican, Evangelical and Pentecostal churches. The network, coordinated by Dr. James Magara of Intercessors for Uganda, has been guiding Christians to fast and pray for Uganda to be a God fearing nation in the next 50 years. “The jubilee season provides us with an opportune time to seek and return to the Lord. It is a time for liberty, amnesty, family reunion, justice, debt release, economic emancipation, restoration and chance to reset the clock and start over again,” Magara said.
Earlier, the church of Uganda archbishop elect, Stanley Ntagali, called upon the religious and political leaders to repent and put right what had gone wrong arguing that jubilee is about restitution and attaining God’s eternal life after forgiveness. Rev. Simon Peter Emiau said no matter how many times Ugandans pray, God will not intervene in the affairs of our country without fulfilling the conditions in 2 Chronicles 7:14 of repenting and turning away from wicked ways. Calling upon church leaders and Christians to repent, Apostle Charles Tumwine attributed the current high level of immorality in the country to the wickedness/darkness in the church arguing that what happens in a nation is usually a replica of the state of the church.
The believers also prayed for Uganda’s media and communication, arts and entertainment, the judiciary, parliament, cabinet, the president, local governments, churches, and the education sector that they will all be revived on God’s principles and values of righteousness, love and justice.
Hans-Dieter and Inge Sturz, German missionaries to Uganda, were present at the ceremony and mailed us the full dedication prayer. It’s available in German and English.