KAMPALA – President Yoweri Museveni has commended the Church leadership, in Uganda, for spearheading developmental projects in the communities.
Museveni said that faith-based institutions have supplemented government efforts to provide health and educational services to the people of Uganda.
“I thank you for ensuring that your followers achieve decent standards of living here on earth,” said Museveni in a message read for him by his Special Envoy and former Prime Minister, Dr Ruhakana Rugunda.
“This is proof that the Church is concerned about both the material and physical well-being of the believers,” he added.
The president was speaking at the opening of a two-day East Africa Fire Conference at Sharing Hall (Youth Centre) Nsambya, Kampala.
More than 900 pastors from East Africa and other parts of the world are attending the conference organized by Heal the Planet organization.
The President, however, challenged believers to engage in income-generating activities for wealth creation.
“It is important to emphasize to believers that in addition to seeking spiritual nourishment from the places of worship, they should also participate in income-generating activities to sustain their households. All believers should take the example of Jesus Christ, who besides praying, preaching, and fasting, also earned his bread as a carpenter,” Museveni said, noting poverty, in Uganda is caused by the fact that 38% of the Ugandan households are still engaged in subsistence farming by working for the stomach only.
“This is dangerous in the modern era, where all goods and services needed to sustain life must be bought with money,” he added.
Museveni said the government has put in place the necessary conditions to ensure the profitability of the enterprises including good roads, electricity, peace and security; integration of the Ugandan market to the regional, African, and International markets; pursuing policies that favour the private sector.
He also pledged that his administration will continue to ensure the maintenance of peace and security and the construction of the necessary infrastructure, as a way of facilitating and attracting local and foreign investments to create jobs and incomes for Ugandans.
“The economic advantages that the NRM has created must be translated into jobs and wealth for the households. It is in the best interest of everybody that Uganda continues to accelerate towards modernity, development, and political stability,” the president said.
Museveni also applauded American televangelist Dr. Michelle Corral, the president and Founder of Breath of the Spirit Ministries who is in Uganda for her dedication towards preaching the gospel and charity to the needy and vulnerable people in society.
He said her Breath of the Spirit Ministries is a blessing to many people around the world.
“Uganda is proud to host such a big conference, bringing together pastors from the East African region.”
Col. Edith Nakalema, the Head State House Investors Protection Unit said also saluted the Church leadership, in Uganda, for being good partners of the government, in promoting social services, alongside preaching the gospel, to win people’s souls, for eternity.
“The social services that include health care, education and other welfare projects and initiatives are a good source of enlightening and transforming lives. And this, remains a key role of the Church in transforming society and the nation,” Col. Nakalema said.
She said the good collaboration between the government and the Church continues to transform lives and thus the steady social and economic development.
Col. Nakalema also commended Mr. Benjamin Earnest Kivumbi, the President of Heal the Planet Global Organisation for making Nsambya, Kampala, a hilltop of the good news of the gospel.
“I have no doubt that the gospel of salvation is being widely spread and that it is greatly changing many lives in different parts of the world”.
“And, indeed, you have lightened the world! Thank you for implementing the mandate, given in this scripture. As beneficiaries of this conference, we affirm Vs.16 of this scripture, that you have let your light shine to the world; and that we have seen your good deeds; and we will continue to glorify our Almighty Father, who is in Heaven. And, for that, may He bless you and increase you, in every aspect.”
On his part, Kivumbi, the president of Heal the Planet Global Organisation who is also the host of the East Africa Fire and Anointing Pastors Conference, President Museveni’s message calls for pastors to help believers start efforts aimed at creating wealth and getting out of poverty.
“The pastors have been given a message so that they can ably pass it to the congregation since they are influencers in society and have a command. The message of development and making use of government programs is very key so that instead of only preaching, people should get time to go and work since it is so crucial in national development. I appreciate President Museveni for this message,” Kivumbi said.
