Pope in Africa: Francis arrives in Uganda calling for transparent governance

Enthusiastic African singing and dancing combined with a military display complete with firing cannons greeted Pope Francis as he arrived in Uganda for the second leg of his African tour. 

Thousands of Ugandans, where Catholics making up the largest religious group at 40 per cent of the population, lined the streets to welcome Francis as he made his way to State House in Entebbe.  

The Pope was greeted at the airport by President Yoweri Museveni, who has ruled the country for almost 30 years and is planning to stand once again for election in February. 

While he was initially praised for overseeing economic growth and democratic governance according to the 2014 Global Corruption Perception Index by Transparency International Uganda is one of the most corrupt countries in the world. In 2005 the president introduced a bill scrapping fixed parliamentary terms. 

In his speech to political leaders at State House the Pope made a thinly veiled reference to these concerns by calling on them to ensure “good and transparent governance.”

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He said this includes: “integral human development, a broad participation in national life, as well as a wise and just distribution of the goods which the Creator has so richly bestowed upon these lands.” 

Francis urged Uganda’s leaders to follow the ideals of the country’s Christian martyrs who he described as “true national heroes.” 

23 Anglicans and 22 Catholics were killed on the orders of King Mwanga II in the 19th century, and this year are marking 50 years since the latter’s canonisation. This morning Pope Francis visited the shrine to the Anglican martyrs and was then due to say Mass at the Catholc martyrs shrine in Namugongo. He visited a separate shrine to the Catholic martyrs in Munyonyo yesterday evening.  

During his speech at State House Pope also paid tribute to Uganda for “its outstanding concern for welcoming refugees” many of whom have come from neighbouring Democratic Republic of Congo. 

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“Our world, caught up in wars, violence, and various forms of injustice, is witnessing an unprecedented movement of peoples,” the Pope said. “How we deal with them is a test of our humanity, our respect for human dignity, and above all our solidarity with our brothers and sisters in need.” 

UPDATE: Fr Federico Lombardi, the spokesman for the Holy See, said this evening that Pope Francis privately met with the President of South Sudan, Salva Kiir Mayardit, while he was at State House. The country, which borders Uganda, only gained independence in 2011 and is facing serious internal conflict. The decision by Francis to meet a head of state different from the country he is visiting is a break with protocol but Fr Lombardi said the Pope agreed to do so in order to further efforts for peace.