International Journal of Humanities Social Sciences and Education (IJHSSE) Volume 4, Issue 5, May 2017, PP 1-11 ISSN 2349-0373 (Print) & ISSN 2349-0381 (Online) http://dx.doi.org/10.20431/2349-0381.0405001 www.arcjournals.org ©ARC Page | 1 The Political Functions of Yoweri Museveni’s Bible Hermeneutics in Uganda Robert Kuloba Wabyanga, PhD Department of Religious Studies, Kyambogo University, Uganda. Abstract: Yoweri Museveni, the President of Uganda‟s rendition of Bible texts and stories in his political speeches has become part of his political trademark. Many of his speeches are thus reworked in coherent didactic rhetorical statements in an effort to galvanize his political base and agenda which is focused on the ideals of Pan Africanism, nationalism, democracy and socio-economic transformation in Uganda and East Africa as a region. Second, his book “The Mustard Seed” is reminiscent of the New Testament biblical para ble like in Matthew 13:31-32. This article attempts to examine how these ideological nuances are involved in Museveni‟s parabolic and proverbial rendition of Bible texts, and how they are practically manifested in Uganda. The article is a critical analysis and description of the Museveni biblical sayings in correspondence with his political agenda and ideology. 1. BACKGROUND INFORMATION Yoweri Museveni‟s rhetorical rendition of the Bible texts and stories in his political speeches has become part of his political trademarks. Certainly, there are other things Museveni shall be remembered for in modern African history. For example, his recent attitude and criticisms against the International Criminal Court (ICC), his conservative attitude to gay rights, his role in East and Central African regional politics and the numerous domestic socio-economic and political reforms in Uganda. Many of Museveni‟s speeches are awash with biblical stories and texts; stories and texts that are reworked in a coherent didactic rhetorical statements to galvanize the president‟s speeches and addresses. This interminable practice by the political figure begs for a scholarly attention alongside other trends of contextual Bible studies in Sub-Saharan Africa. Museveni does not use the Bible in the conventional sense of devotion and inspiration. He is also not commonly associated with any Christian group, and also known for keeping a critical distance from Christian Churches. Museveni‟s repeated verbalization of the Bible texts in his speeches is deeper than humorous rhetoric that is associated with popular politicians. It partly accentuates the centrality of the Bible in the African socio-cultural contexts, but also reveals a new twist in relation to the role of the Bible in African politics. Museveni often synthesizes the Bible texts and stories in rhetorical and literary didactic statements that constitute his political speeches. Museveni‟s Bible rendition seems hermeneutical in outlook, but a hermeneutics with its idiosyncrasy from what we know as African Biblical Hermeneutics that is commonly associated with Afri can theologians. To use Gifford‟s words, African Biblical Hermeneutics focuses on “how issues raised in the Bible can be interpreted and addressed within the social, cultural and religious context of Africa,” and creates “a dialogue between the text and the African context through the process of appropriation.” The Bible is a world in itself. However, it shares socio-economic and cultural affinities with the African world context, which makes it a very important tool of interpreting and dealing with Africa‟s issues. In fact as Mbiti would put it, “Africans hear and see a confirmation of their own cultural, social and religious life” in the Bible. Museveni‟s Hermeneutics is unique and serves a political ideological purpose. Whereas African Biblical Hermeneutics forges the continuity between the African socio-cultural and religious antecedents and the Bible, This continuity lacks in Museveni‟s hermeneutics, which can only be understood as parabolic or proverbial appropriations of the Bible in the politics. In line with this view, Mr. Museveni has written a book, whose title—“The Mustard Seed” reminds us of the biblical parable of the Mustard Seed (Matthew 13:31-35, Mark 4:30-34, Luke 13:18- 21). In some cases, he uses either African sayings/proverbs or combines both African saying and the Bible verse.