Towards an indigenous understanding and practice of baptism amongst the Baganda, Uganda.

Abstract

The coming of independence and the feeling of nationalism amongst African peoples in the middle of the 20th century also brought the desire for religious independence. The author in this dissertation presents an indigenous understanding and practice of baptism amongst the Baganda of Central Uganda. The author observes that Christianity in Africa is to a large extent wrapped in Western culture. The author asserts that though Christianity in Buganda has taken root, it has not destroyed the indigenous religion and that the indigenous religion continues to have an influence among the Baganda. The author stresses that there is a useful relationship between the Kiganda rites performed in the early period of childhood and baptism. The author high lights the fact that contemporary Baganda Christians have one leg in the Church and the second into the traditional religion. The author recommends the Church leadership in Buganda to employ a positive and understanding approach and study carefully the Kiganda beliefs and practices so as to include the values of Kiganda traditional religion in the life of the Church.