("New Vision," January 15, 2001)

President Museveni has promised to keep religious education in the school curriculum, reports A. Wasike.
Museveni was yesterday speaking at a 16-day annual prayer convention, Africamp 2001, which he opened at Buganda Road Primary School. Thousands of delegates from more than 20 African, Asian and European countries and USA and Canada are represented. They prayed for Museveni's bid.
The delegates, who braved a downpour, shouted "Praise the Lord, Man of God, No Change." Museveni was wearing military attire.
He said, "Our government respects human rights. We fought to return all freedoms including that of worship."
He apologised for going to church in combat gear, saying he had just returned from up-country and did not have time to go home and "polish up."
"We shall not allow religious education to be removed from the syllabus in schools. I don't support the removal of religious education from schools. In any case you do not have to worry because new policy in our government must pass only after very wide and exhaustive consultations," he said.
Museveni said, "Islam and Christianity revolutionised African societies by introducing the ideals of forgiveness and resurrection."
Conference host Pastor George Mulinde had said the Education Commission had planned to drop religious education from the curriculum.

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