I learned with shock the news that Pastor Joseph Sserwadda wants the government to check the rapid population growth by enforcing vasectomy.

Scientifically, vasectomy is a permanent method of birth control for men, where the release of sperms during sexual intercourse is prevented. The clergyman wants every man limited to producing only four children in their lifetime.

Apparently, Pr Sserwadda and the ilk have their eyes set on the negative side of high population. As it is argued that two hands make work lighter, large population serves a number of purposes. For instance, today, government finds it easier in recruiting the youth into the national army, a thing that can reasonably be attributed to the high population.

Moreover, due to unpalatable tragedies such as epidemics and accidents, high population can erase gloom in society/family. Recently, the media reported that in one of the West Nile districts, a family almost lost its entire members to an epidemic. Against such instances, I wonder where one would derive the charisma calling for ‘castration’ of men.

I found Pr Sserwadda’s reasoning not only uncalled for but also blasphemous, that no one in their spiritual sense could take. The church should institute investigations into such people’s pastoral qualifications, given that their actions are not typical of clergymen.

Muzamil Alamiga,
Arua.

Message to Archbishop Paul Bakyenga from Uganda youths
Your Grace, I hope you have had a good year and you have my prayers for success in the new one. I am a young Catholic, born just a year after your Episcopal ordination. Indeed, I am young and humble enough to look up to you for inspiration.

I would like to share a few things with you, about what our generation aspires. We are a country tormented by many ills. In a politically-besieged setup, the majority are impoverished and hopeless.

As a result, the hungry in Isingiro will only see God when they receive a sack of maize flour. The God of the sick in Buhweju is that one guy who offers a painkiller (doesn’t matter what he takes in exchange). For those who face the threat of death by guns in Kasese, their only saviour is a panga in their hands.

Indeed, the many unemployed, a few shillings, no matter the source – theft, prostitution, political cheering or even witchcraft – will attract their allegiance or adoration.

All these, you will say, are political problems. Yes, they are. But these, by and large, eat into the moral and spiritual lives of people. You can’t nourish the spirit, when the body is hungry. You can’t preach love in the face of injustice. You can’t teach about God’s providence to the deprived and desperate. There is no spirituality in a morally-broken society.

I truly understand those that have left the Catholic Church out of hopelessness. I know that it is a hopeless decision, but their only pursuit is hope. Hope that they will get a job, escape poverty or get the basics of life. This despair that makes them respond to the misguidance of equally-desperate ‘pastors’ is unfortunate!

Your Grace, you can’t afford to look away or be silent. You can’t remain silent when masses are killed without regard. You can’t be silent about injustice, poverty or corruption and greed.

We must not resign, hoping that politicians will solve the problems they have created. When Charles and Vincent fight for a parliamentary seat, Christians are divided along such bogus political lines; but it’s not for them to sort.

To take gifts worth hundreds of millions from politicians when many mothers and children can’t afford health care is unfair. With many headlines in this country showing public funds being stolen daily, you can’t be sure that the money that bought the cars you or your brother bishops receive from politicians were not meant for medicines for the health facility near you.

Beyond spiritual growth, you ought to rebuild social structures that work to raise the standards of your flock. This goes, to an extent, with disassociating with the mediocrity and the greed of politics.

I hope in 2017 you dedicate to work with/for the young people. They are a hopeless majority. They, however, are the future of not only the church but also our greater society. To this end, they need to be attended to with urgency in terms of morality, spirituality and especially with how to meet their basics of life so they can lead a dignified life.

Happy new year.

Edgar Mwine,
Concerned Ugandan from Bushenyi.

Beware of black spots on the leg

Black discoloration of leg skin is the commonest problem in developing countries. People here in India, out of ignorance, think this is due to some skin disease and therefore go to a skin specialist for treatment.

In reality, these black spots are caused by disease of veins called Chronic Venous Insufficiency (CVI). Previously, ladies, especially during pregnancy or after delivery, would suffer from black spots on legs. But these days young males and females who spend long hours sitting in front of computers, or standing due to job compulsions in government or multinational offices, are falling victim to this disease at an alarming rate.

Lack of regular daily walk, leg exercise and leading a sedentary lifestyle greatly contribute to the development of Chronic Venous insufficiency.

K K Pandey,
drpandeykk@gmail.com.

Nana hostel double-charging Mak students

When Makerere University was closed, government directed all hostels accommodating its students to also close. The students had paid for a full semester.

However, when Makerere reopened on January 2, 2017 to complete the first semester, and students consequently reported at Nana hostel. To their surprise, they were required to pay an extra Shs 430,000 each for what the owners called extended first semester fees.

The normal fee for each semester per student at this hostel is Shs 850,000. All students had already paid for semester one before the university closed. Mind you, students will soon be required to pay another Shs 850,000 for the second semester. This is open-day extortion and the hostel is taking advantage of the strike to collect fees for two and a half semesters and yet students had paid for a full semester which was not fully utilised due to university closure.

Pleas from students and parents have fallen on deaf ears and students have no choice as they can’t get alternative hostels in the middle of the university year.

The university authorities and police should investigate this double-charge. I also urge aggrieved parents to oppose this open extortion and seek legal redress for double-charging them.

Joseph Kyomya Ruganda,
0772 629764.

letters@observer.ug