Bwambale Robert Musubaho on the humanist movement and humanist education in Uganda
Author(s): Scott Douglas Jacobsen
Publication (Outlet/Website): Medium (Personal)
Publication Date (yyyy/mm/dd): 2018/05/12
Robert Bwambale is the founder of the Kasese United Humanist Association (KUHA) with “the goal of promoting Freethought in Uganda.” The association is affiliated with the extremely active Uganda Humanist Association (UHA). In March, the UHA held a conference in Kampala whose theme was Humanism For a Free and Prosperous Africa. The Kasese United Humanist Association is a member organization in the IHEYO Africa Working Group, and has participated in humanist conferences. He is also the director of a few primary schools set up to encourage a humanistic method of learning.
Jacobsen: Who are some inspirational people in the humanist movement for you?
Robert Bwambale: Richard Dawkins, Christopher Hitchens, Carl Sagan, Late Josh Kutchnisky, Robert Ingersol, Bertrand Russell, Madalyn Murray O’Hair, Paul Kurtz, Leo Igwe. Ricky Gervais.
Jacobsen: How does a humanist education provide the basis for being a functional citizen in a society?
Bwambale:
· Humanist education empowers citizens to think for themselves and devise ways how they can better their lives.
· Humanist education encourages citizens to get united irrespective of what believe in.
· Humanist education encourages respect for human right freedoms
· Humanist education enlightens the locals about the dangers of belief in magic and superstitions which is deep ridden in ou communities. It dispels performing of rituals and believing in fairies.
· Humanist education encourages citizens to get involved in managing their own affairs, better governance, conflict resolutions and emphasizes peace.
· Humanist education promotes tolerance among people with mixed difference in thinking, beliefs, race etc to come together and work for the common good of humanity.
· Humanist education exposes people to critical thinking which is a guiding principle that boosts the intellect of the human mind.
Jacobsen: What differentiates a humanist education from a religious education?
Bwambale: Humanist education empowers power to question everything while religious education doesnt.
Humanist education encourages people to think for themselves while religious education gives authority and respect to the gods or god to think, guide or plan for us.
Humanist education encourages appreciation of science and deals with facts, experimentation, analysis, research and deductions while religious education emphasizes people to have faith, believe in what they cannot see, miracles, etc.
Humanist education emphasizes that we are part and parcel of nature and that we are products of nature while religious education stipulates that we were created by a god and that a woman was created from a man’s rib.
Humanist education encourages things which are practical in nature, that can be seen while religious education encourages belief in a divine thing, unseen, revelations, or dreams of some sort.
Humanist education is against homophobia while religious education promotes homophobia.
Humanist education cherishes evolutionary science while religious education cherishes creation science, intelligent design, and pseudoscience.
Humanist education encourages learners to read a variety of books or any book that they come across while religious education encourages people to read a specific book attached to their belief or religion.
Humanist education has no room for rituals, fairies, spirits, fables, sacrifices while religious education is well empowered with all these aforementioned stuff.
Jacobsen: What are the textbooks used in humanist curricula? How do the humanist principles build into this education?
Bwambale: There is no pre-set text books in the humanist curriculum. Most of the things we teach are gathered from several sources both in some free thought books by different personalities and of recent the Humanism for schools website has been a great resource.
Below are some of the valuable books that have been helpful: Humanism for children by Nada Topic peratovic, center for civil courage, Humanism by Barbara smoker, Critical thinking document by Leo Igwe. Humanism: A Beginner’s Guide (Oneworld) by Peter Cave, Atheist Universe by David Mills.
This website by the British Humanist association has been helpful https://understandinghumanism.org.uk/
The humanist principles gives an array about what being a humanist entails and these acts as start ups that orientates any person who could want to know about what humanism or being a humanist requires.
Jacobsen: How do the religious authorities react to the humanist and non-religious educational institutions? Do they attempt to shut them down?
Bwambale: Oh yes, they seem to be against them since they think allowing people to reason, ask questions, and boosting people’s exposure to the internet would enlighten them and threaten their congregations to go low.
Many attempts or misconceptions have been put on my initiatives propelled by religious zealots in an attempt to tarnish my projects but since what i do is always in plain color, many have realized that am innocent, smart and not harmful to the society whatsoever since I am an agitator for peace, knowledge, and a better informed Uganda.
Jacobsen: What is the better way to donate to the organization?
Bwambale: Donations to my initiatives can be relayed through:
Atheist Alliance international
Kasese Humanist School
Brighter Brains Institute
https://www.brighterbrains.biz/schools/
Jacobsen: Thank you for the opportunity and your time, Robert.
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