As part of the plan to promote the Catholic Church Social Teachings on peaceful coexistence in religion, cultural and political diversity, the Uganda Episcopal Conference (UEC), through its Department of Interreligious Dialogue and Ecumenism held a workshop on October 8, 2015 in Jinja Diocese, Uganda.
The workshop, which was conducted under the theme: Human Nature, Unity in Diversity, Religion and Culture in Social Development of our Mother Uganda, tackled the definition, necessity and role of human beings in the process of peaceful and harmonious coexistence.
“We are trying to help people understand that God created us differently,” said the UEC Executive Secretary of the Interreligious and Ecumenism Department, Rev. Fr. Vincent Karatunga adding, “Being different from one another doesn’t mean we are enemies. Every person is entitled to his or her own view and his own way of life. But, because we have to live together there is a need to engage in dialogue to help us understand and appreciate each other’s as well as live in peace and grow together in a human family.”
The event also highlighted the importance of tolerance and democracy as well as the negative impacts of extremism, fundamentalism, armament and fanaticism in the global world of today where people are interconnected to one another as a result of modern technology.
Fr Karatunga, who was also the main facilitator, pointed out the importance of their work in such a diverse society where “the role of church is to reinforce the concepts of coexistence, equity, justice and acceptance.”
“We need to strive to invest in our religion-cultural diversity in order to make Uganda a peaceful and secure country for everyone,” he noted.
The Detective Senior Superintendent of Police in Uganda, Mrs. Lydia Kantono, also presided as a guest speaker at the workshop. Mrs. Kantono called on the participants to strive to be global citizens and think beyond their personal views to be able to survive in today’s global world.
“Human diversity should not only be looked at as a liberality for human growth and development but on the contrary, they are assets in which we should all invest because through them we are all enriched and transformed to become better persons,” she explained.
Uganda’s Assistant Commissioner of Police, David Wasswa was also in attendance at the workshop which attracted over 200 participants from the Eastern region of Uganda.
By Jacinta Wangalwa Odongo; Media Officer, Uganda Episcopal Conference