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Presidential elections not expected to affect ministry

Uganda's President Yoweri Museveni is up for reelection again, after a 25 year reign, reports MNN.

This Friday's election will determine if Museveni will stay in power, or if one of the three other candidates will take his place. Museveni's long term rival Dr. Kizza Besigye is in the running again, along with newcomers Nobert Mao and Olara Otunnu. Two other candidates have also been mentioned.

According to the BBC, Museveni's popularity has fallen over the past few elections. The last run got him 59 percent of the vote. In the 1996 election 10 years before, he had 75 percent of the country's support.

Some say that after a quarter of a century, Museveni has overstayed his welcome. The people of Uganda will be the judge of that, though, this Friday, February 18.

Whatever happens, Wycliffe Bible Translators director for Uganda and Tanzania, Liz Thomson, doubts that ministry will be very affected. She says political changes should not dictate much in the way of ministerial changes, especially thanks to the large influence the church has in the country.

"I've not got any sense in which it would be problematic this year," says Thomson, who goes on to add, "but it's always worth praying for the elections and for the outcome of the election."

Prayers may be in order against violence as well. Rumors are floating around that civilian brigades may form, and could get ugly, during election time.

Thomson is optimistic, though. Peace has long been a aspect of Ugandan presidential elections. "We are just very grateful to God that in the past the elections have gone very peacefully," reflects Thomson.

The ministry is on their guard just in case. "We always have to be cautious over the time of elections, in case there is any civil unrest associated with it, but we've never had any setbacks as a result of elections."

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TAGS: Uganda President Yoweri Museveni presidential elections Wycliffe Bible Translators

[02/15/2011]

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