Why government has halted registration of new churches

The Ugandan government has halted the registration on new churches until a legal framework is introduced to monitor their operations.

Ethics and Integrity Minister Simon Lokodo disclosed to Daily Monitor in an interview.

He said the lack of a legal framework to monitor operations of faith-based organisations has caused the suspension.

"They are paying for registration but there is no mechanism for their supervision and monitoring. We have paralysed their registration."

Churches and Mosques are registered as 'non-government organisations, companies limited by guarantee and as a board of trustees where the religious leaders are not members.'

The new legal framework allow all religious institutions to register under one institution different from other non-government organisation.

New policy to religious leaders

Early this month, Lokodo revealed that the government is set to implement a new policy which will see all religious leaders obtain theological training.

The minister claimed that some religious leaders are misleading and extorting people under the guise of holy places.

The move, which some religious leaders have termed as controversial, is also aimed at enforcing transparency and financial accountability in faith-based institutions.

"The person will, among other things, be required to declare their source of income, whether locally and internationally sourced."

Also Read: UK Parliament to debate Uganda's democracy over Bobi Wine crisis