ENTEBBE: Pope Francis arrived in Uganda on Friday on the second leg of a landmark trip to Africa which has seen him railing against corruption and poverty, with huge crowds celebrating his arrival.

The 78-year-old pontiff was given a rapturous welcome as he headed to the presidential palace in the central town of Entebbe, spurning a large vehicle for a small hatchback car, with waving crowds gathered along the roads, four deep in some places.

Pope Francis arrived after three days in neighbouring Kenya, where vast crowds also turned out to an open-air mass, and where the pontiff lashed out at corruption and wealthy minorities who hoard resources at the expense of the poor.

The pope has made humility and help for the impoverished a hallmark of his tenure.

Veteran Ugandan leader Yoweri Museveni, widely expected to be re-elected next year for his third decade in power, has said he is “honoured to host Pope Francis,” saying the pontiff’s “compassion for the poor and his frankness of spirit is an encouragement for all of us”.

On the eve of his arrival, Ugandan MPs passed a controversial bill giving authorities sweeping powers to regulate civil society, which rights groups say will “strangle” criticism of the government.

The legislation would grant Uganda’s internal affairs ministry the power to supervise, approve, inspect and dissolve organisations in a move which could even see rights activists jailed for documenting abuses.

Street lights were draped with black, yellow and red banners, the colours of the Ugandan flag.

“This is my third pope but it can’t be boring, we are blessed!” said 55-year-old Agnes Mubuya, sitting on a plastic chair on the pavement in Entebbe.

Published in Dawn, November 28th, 2015