Alex Akello, the Permanent Secretary, Directorate for Ethics and Integrity speaks to the religious leaders. Photo by Godwin Abedican

By Godwin Abedican

Arua
Religious leaders in west Nile are demanding for the enactment of the religious faith based organisations policy geared towards regulating religious institutions in order to curb cases of noise pollution generated by places of worship.

During a meeting for religious leaders across the region organized by directorate for ethics and integrity to validate the revised draft of the religious faith based organisations policy held in Arua city, the leaders argued that since there is no regulation on this, many places of worship and prayer centers are becoming an inconvenience to the people.

Rev. Fr. Pious Yobuta, the parish Priest of Christ the King parish Arua and chairperson of Priests in Arua diocese therefore calls for a consideration of other peoples peace as prayers are conducted. “We need to agree to work together. If my neighbor is raising a complaint against me about noise and other things, I need to pay attention to that. We have been advised that if we want to make other pray well and also spend their times well, let us be concerned, because everyone needs peace even if we are serving God,” he said.

According to The National Environment (Noise Standards And Control), Regulations, 2003., (Under sections 28 and 107 of the National Environment Act Cap 153) in Part III:  (1) It is the duty of the owner of machinery or the owner or occupier of a facility or premises, to use the best practicable means to ensure that the emission of noise from that machinery, facility or premises does not exceed the permissible noise levels.

Rev. David Emazu the chairperson Arua Pentecostal pastors association says if enacted it will help to streamline the operations of places of worship and regulate noise emissions.

“It has been the desire of my heart to make sure that people leave in peace. If there is anything the church is supposed to do, is to make sure that there is coexistence and peace that exists among different churches and work together to regulate things like noise pollution so as to maintain interest of their faithful. The issue of noise in the night is a contextual thing and disturbance of another person’s sleep needs to be regulated. I don’t think when you shout more, God listens to you more. Even Jesus said, when you pray go inside and pray in silence your father in heaven will listen to you.” Emazu noted. He adds that this regulation must cut across including discos places since they also contribute a lot to noise pollution.

Venerable Alba Limio Avi, the Archdeacon of Arua Archdeaconry diocese of Madi West Nile attributes this to the rise in unauthorized practices by people who spring into preaching without being monitored by any religious body and are not under any authority that can regulate them since they are self-proclaimed. “If you have received the call of God to preach, you must submit yourself under authority. You must be sent by that authority which ordained you to the ministry,” she appealed.

Meanwhile Alex Akello, the Permanent Secretary, Directorate for Ethics and Integrity admits that the lack of policy has created a great gap in regulation of noise pollution from religious institutions. “There are those who complain that they are being harassed from worshiping. You can worship but when you are doing so, do not disturb your other neighbor,” Okello cautioned.

According to the Problem Statement of the draft policy ,The absence of a comprehensive regulatory framework governing the exercise of freedoms like liberty and worship, as outlined in Article 29(1)(c) of the Constitution of Uganda, has given rise to a multitude of challenges faced by the public in their interactions with various Religious and Faith Organizations (RFOs).