IRCU History

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On 31st March and 3rd April, 2001, the Secretary General of Religions for Peace (RfP) international, Dr. William F. Vendley, held private meetings with senior-most religious leaders from four religious communities in Uganda, namely; the Roman Catholic Church, the Anglican Church (Church of Uganda), the Orthodox Church of Uganda, and the Muslim Community.

During the meeting, Dr. Vendley introduced the mission and vision of RfP, then known as the World’s Council of Religions for Peace (WCRP), and the emerging initiative and unique opportunity for religious communities to address the plight of orphans affected by HIV/AIDS, and he also offered to facilitate the formation of a national inter-religious structure.

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Religious leaders unanimously held a view that the time was ripe for a national inter-religious council to be co-built by both Christians and Muslims. The WCRP team met with major religious groups and inter-religious groups in Uganda to brainstorm about how their activities could be strengthened by the formation of a national inter-religious council.

The first preparatory meeting for the formation of the Inter-Religious Council of Uganda (IRCU) was held on 4th April, at Nile Hotel in Kampala. The committee consisted of representatives appointed by the heads of four religious communities in Uganda.

The participants agreed to officially constitute the preparatory committee mandated to work for the establishment of IRCU. The committee designated six members to form an ad-hoc committee to conduct preliminary work for the committee, including the drafting of the Council’s constitution.