The famous Ugandan pastor, Pastor Martin Ssempa, has now condemned Makerere University for closing the church that he founded over twenty years ago, the Makerere Community Church. This church has served the students on campus at the university for many years and recently was shut down-a thing that really raised a high tempo of debate about religious freedom and the treatment of faith-based organizations in public institutions like Makerere University.
In an X post, Pastor Ssempa expressed his disappointment in the university’s decision and said it has denied thousands of students much-needed spiritual guidance and support. He added that the church was crucial for shaping students into “godly global leaders” and labeled the university’s move as religious discrimination.
The bishop pointed an accusing finger at Makerere University’s Vice-Chancellor, Professor Barnabas Nawangwe, for the closure of the church and accused the administration of labeling the church “irregular.” This is a contravention of the constitutional right to freedom of worship as enshrined in the constitution of Uganda.
He proceeded to emphasize the massive monetary involvement that he and his wife have always made to Makerere University students, amounting to well over $6,000,000. He wondered why such efforts would be responded to with hostility by the university administration instead of with gratitude.
Ssempa warned of student welfare going down the drain as he said the closure will leave a gap in providing spiritual and counseling services to students. He indicated that this has been a major plank of the church’s mission since it was incorporated more than twenty years ago.
He threatened to take a legal action against Makerere University over the closure, saying he is defending what he termed a violation of the freedom of religion. He called on members of the public to join him in solidarity against the alleged discrimination, calling on supporters to mount pressure on the university leadership- Vice-Chancellor Professor Nawangwe and Chancellor Dr Crispus Kiyonga, to rescind the decision.
The uproar over the closure of the church enters the public domain through larger questions on religious freedom and the status of faith-based organizations within public universities in Uganda. The institution-Makerere University-not yet making any official comment on the issue, the debate goes on, casting into focus key questions on the treatment of religious minorities and provisions of spiritual services within institutions of higher learning.
This far-from-over dispute is likely to have longer-term implications for the relationship between public institutions and religious organizations in Uganda, especially on questions of the balance between the protection of constitutional rights and the administration of universities.
