This anthem intentionally uses an American patriotic tune to involve the music itself in an act of penance. The words seek both to lament the complicity (and worse) of American Christianity in Uganda’s anti-gay fervor and to sound a refrain of prayerful hope. The audio comes from my CD of hymns, “To the Tune of a Welcoming God,” where Sara Kay provides the vocals.

Click here for a pdf of the lyrics suitable for use in a bulletin.

Click to play.

Preserve Uganda’s Future Hope

Beneath these bright and gracious skies, where hope is freely lent,
Where children watch through vacant eyes, as families are rent.
Be merciful, bring justice now, O hear our urgent plea:
Preserve Uganda’s future hope, and set her people free.

By missionary zeal first sown, as hearts for Christ were claimed,
But now against its flesh and bone, is hatred thus inflamed
Be merciful, bring justice now, O hear our urgent plea:
Preserve Uganda’s future hope, and set her people free.

O gracious God, take back your word, from preachers on our shores,
Whose lust for blood goes undeterred, and on your children pours
Be merciful, bring justice now, O hear our urgent plea:
Preserve Uganda’s future hope, and set her people free.

In Africa, your soul delights, so make her leaders brave,
And guide the path toward human rights, and all your children save
Be merciful, bring justice now, O hear our urgent plea:
Preserve Uganda’s future hope, and set her people free.

At last may dawn the day we seek, where love has naught to fear
And every lover truth may speak, and find your kin-dom near
Be merciful, bring justice now, O hear our urgent plea:
Preserve Uganda’s future hope, and set her people free.

Text: David R. Weiss, b. 1959 (© 2011 David R. Weiss)
Tune: Samuel A. Ward, 1847-1903, Materna (America, the Beautiful) – public domain

Permission is given to photocopy Preserve Uganda’s Future Hope for use in worship.