The Ugandan Church Fights Abuse with Advocacy

An anti-alcohol law was passed in 2017 in Gulu district, after concerted and collaborative efforts of the Diocese of Northern Uganda and other stakeholders with support from World Renew. Petitions were raised by Diocese of Northern Uganda and peaceful protesters, both Muslim and Christian, marched through Gulu town to raise awareness of the need to have a law to stop the dangers associated with this kind of drink. And we were successful! All alcohol sold in sachets under 50 millilitres were banned in Gulu district.

Peaceful protesters, both Muslim and Christian, marched through Gulu town. 

How was the church led to this level of advocacy, against the forces of business and political interests? The church noted an increasing level of sexual abuse cases attributed to men who were under the influence of alcohol.

One girl lamented and narrated the embarrassment she experienced: “Whenever my father came back drunk with alcohol he demanded sex with his wife amongst all present. My mother decided that whenever my father’s voice is heard coming, she vanished from his sight to avoid the embarrassment. This was an emotional and psychological torture to the household every time he went out and was expected to come back home drunk.”

How was the church led to this level of advocacy?

Imagine the feelings of the children about their father! The wife was on the verge of separation and leaving her family. What if nothing was done? What would happen to this family? What kind of lifelong impact would this have on the children?

But now, stories of change are being shared of families reconciled and lives redeemed from the intoxication of alcohol. Alice told her personal story of being both a brewer and drinker of alcohol, and the severe problems that it brought to her home. She announced publicly that she had resolved to stop drinking, and had not consumed alcohol since Wakonye Kenwa’s addiction training with Caritas Counselling.

Imagine the feelings of the children about their father!

Groups have also used street theatre to talk about the dangers of alcohol. In the photo above is ‘Okech’, a man with drinking problems who mistreats his wife and daughter. He steals his wife’s beans to go and buy alcohol, and then comes home and fights with her when he finds she has not cooked him food. The headmaster even pays the home a visit, begging them to find a way to send their smart daughter to school. You can see the impact of alcohol…and the freedom people experience when they are free from it.

Increased discord among couples due to alcohol consumption can lead to separation, divorce, child abuse, and neglect by parents affects their ability to provide the basic household necessities. The household resources are mismanaged due to lack of due diligence as a result of the influence of alcohol. This hampers the children’s physical, emotional, spiritual and intellectual growth. Most of the suicidal cases among youths and adults were linked to the individuals having had an influence of alcohol. The specific type of alcohol that is popular here intoxicates and causes health challenges. As the level of drug and alcohol abuse goes higher, the numbers in the jails increase too.

In the photo above is ‘Okech’, a man with drinking problems who mistreats his wife and daughter.

The core human investments begin at the family level. But this critical unit of life is under great attack and threat. One of its key enemies is alcoholism. Many household members have shared how this has devastated their relationships and lives. Alcoholism leads to low levels of literacy in rural communities hence limited exposure to existing livelihood opportunities. Household members spend their meagre resources on alcoholism instead of investing into profitable enterprises that would increase their sources of income to take care of their children education and welfare needs. The ability of an individual to reach their full potential is limited.

While all this happens in communities, the gatekeepers of communities have left them at loose ends. The Ugandan government has very good policies but the level of implementation leaves a lot to be desired. With the capital-led economy in a poor country like Uganda, the investors and business companies take advantage of the situation to exploit the plight of the poor. For the most part, the will is there from the civil society agencies, the church leadership, and local government to implement and enforce the new anti-alcohol law.

The Ugandan government has very good policies but the level of implementation leaves a lot to be desired.

However, the steps towards realizing the goal are hampered by lack of resources and varying interests in the leadership. There is a conflict of interest and divided loyalty. The government wants to appease the business community which gives a lot of revenue to government as tax . The government tries to maintain their relationship with the electorate at the expense of their lives.

Since government has these divided loyalties, who then has the potential to speak and act on behalf of the voiceless? The church is indeed a vehicle to cause the necessary change because of the biblical mandate it upholds.

Since government has these divided loyalties, who then has the potential to speak and act on behalf of the voiceless?

The story in Ezekiel 33:7 reminds us the great responsibility God has bestowed upon us. Ezekiel 33:7-9 “Son of man, I have made you a watchman for the people of Israel; so hear the word I speak and give them warning from me. 8 When I say to the wicked, ‘You wicked person, you will surely die,’ and you do not speak out to dissuade them from their ways, that wicked person will die for their sin, and I will hold you accountable for their blood. 9 But if you do warn the wicked person to turn from their ways and they do not do so, they will die for their sin, though you yourself will be saved.

As the Church, we are charged to do something within our means here and far beyond our borders.

[The image with this post comes from World Renew and shows a street theatre performance which is used to raise awareness about the effects of alcoholism on communities and families.]