Members of the opposition are furious at religious leaders led by the inter-religious council for shunning the National Unity Platform (NUP) Party National Prayers organized to pray for families of kidnapped, killed, tortured, and imprisoned supporters.

This was during the National Unity Platform (NUP) special prayers held at party headquarters in Makerere Kavule on Thursday, December 21, 2023.

The Forum for Democratic Change (FDC) former Party President and presidential candidate, Dr. Kizza Besigye, expressed his disappointment with the religious leaders, supporters, and well-wishers who had gathered for the prayers.

“When we invited religious leaders, they refused to come. Let’s also pray for them today because it is sad that we pray for families of human rights abuse victims when those who were supposed to come and pray for us refused our invitation. We all need to be concerned about the religious leaders and their actions today,” Besigye said.

Besigye, however, commended NUP for hosting all opposition members for prayers and sheltering them in a place they were sure they would not be chased.

“I would love to thank NUP for building us a home where we can always pray from; we have been chased many times from different places. Thank you for building us a small stadium, “Besigye added.

The Alliance for National Transformation President and former presidential candidate General Mugisha Muntu also shared his disappointment in the religious leaders.

“The five of us sat down and invited seven religious leaders, but none of them is here today because of fear. We are not asking you to be partisan. When invited to the State House, or Kololo, you go running, but to pray for victims of human rights abuse, you fear,” Muntu said.

“Faith leaders have failed in their role; this was an opportunity to take moral ground and speak the truth. We are also going to put you in our prayers,” Muntu noted.

The prayers organized by NUP focused on praying for the families of victims of human rights violations such as abductions, torture, those still in custody, those kidnapped, and those who died at the hands of the security operatives.

The prayers were attended by key leaders from different political parties such as the Uganda People’s Congress, Alliance for National Transformation, Conservative Party, Forum for Democratic Change, top NUP leadership, members of parliament, Lord Mayors, speakers, councilors, civil society actors, the media fraternity, and different party supporters.