Busoga local leaders urged on deepening cohesion

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JINJA - Vice-President Maj. (rtd) Jessica Alupo has called upon Busoga local government leaders to reposition Busoga’s economic glory back to its heights by deepening their cohesion.

Alupo told local leaders that they should also mind resisting all that divides them and make the best of the available local resources, as well as opportunities created by the Central Government to make life better for all the people of Busoga and Uganda at large.

This was contained in her statement read by Third Deputy Prime Minister Rukia Isanga Nakadama at the 3rd edition of the Busoga Prayer Week special ministerial dinner she hosted for leaders from Busoga at the Nile Resort Hotel in Jinja city on October 10, 2024.

The annual ministerial dinner flags off the Busoga week of prayer organised by the Busoga Consortium for Development (BCD) where the political leadership in Busoga join different religious leaders in prayers of reconciliation that organised in various areas under the theme: Deepening Regional Cohesion as the Foundation for Household Transformation.

“As we commence this year’s Busoga Prayer Week, I wish to use this opportunity to congratulate you and all the people of Busoga on the milestones registered since our choosing to put God first in our endeavours to transform Busoga and among the highly notable moments of the year worthy celebrating during this prayer week is the Busoga Royal wedding, “Embaga ya Mwenemu”, she said.

"There is a scripture in the bible that I love so much. It is in Mathew 6:33, and reads; “But seek first the Kingdom of God and his righteousness, and all these things will be added to you”. Surely, the Lord has been so good to Busoga during the previous 12 months,” Alupo added.

She also appreciated the Busoga Inter-Religious Council, led by the Rt. Rev. Dr. Paul Samson Naimanhye Mukembo for the selected lead scripture for this year’s prayer week that was derived from 1 Corinthians 12:24-26 which focuses on cohesion as the foundation for growing together.

The village model

“Recently, Busoga Consortium for Development working with my office launched the Village Agricultural Model (VAM) initiative with the collaborative support of our Chinese friends from China Agricultural University, as a means to localising the Parish Development Model (PDM) in Busoga. I have learnt that a lot of capacity has also been developed among the Busoga Local Government leaders in fighting poverty as a result of the recently actualised study exposure training programs in China,” Alupo noted.

She said the recently established co-operation between Busoga and Liaoning Province of China at the 5th Forum on China Africa Local Government Co-operation in Guangzhou China, should be rightly exploited by taking advantage of the created export market through embarking on producing adequately, and consistently, ensuring quality, adding value before export to attract good foreign exchange for Busoga and Uganda at large.

Alupo added that she is certain that Busoga and Jinja city will soon become an “economic giraffe” for Uganda through the continued commitment by her leaders and people to work together for development.

Busoga Consortium for Development's Director General Anthony Mula (2nd R) introduces the chairperson organising committee of the Busoga Prayer Week and also Member of Parliament Luuka South Constituency Stephen Kisa (R) to the third deputy Prime Minister Rukia Isanga Nakadama (L) and Princess Persis Namuganza (2nd L), the Minister of State for Lands, Housing and Urban Development while at the 3rd Busoga Prayer week special dinner held at Jinja Nile Resort hotel in Jinja City on Thursday. (Credit: Donald Kiirya)

Visionary initiative

Alupo further expressed gratitude to President Yoweri Museveni through whose guidance the visionary initiative of the BCD was conceived and established, Edward Ssekandi for his contributions towards the formation of BCD, the Kyabazinga of Busoga William Gabula Nadiope IV, the first deputy Prime Minister and Minister of East African Community Affairs Rebecca Alitwala Kadaga as BCD Patron, together with the entire ministerial team for providing good leadership to Uganda and Busoga in particular hence creating renewed hope for a prosperous Busoga.

She further appreciated the leadership of Busoga Inter-Religious Council for providing the needed spiritual leadership for Busoga transformation and cohesion, the organising committee of the Busoga Prayer Week led by its chairperson Stephen Kisa, local government leaders and BCD secretariate led by its Director General Anthony Mula.

Mobilisation of the masses

Minister for the Presidency Milly Babirye Babalanda urged religious leaders to mobilise people through their different places of worship to attend the climax of the Busoga prayer week on October 20th, 2024 where President Yoweri Museveni is expected as chief guest.

Babalanda thanked Busoga Kingdom for embracing the Busoga Prayer Week as an annual event adding that the prayer week will be conducted at various designated days starting Monday 14th at St. Andrews Church in Bukoto.

Busoga Kingdom’s Prime Minister DR. Joseph Muvawala appreciated Vice President Jessica Alupo for hosting the dinner for the senior leaders of Busoga as a gesture for enhancing continued cohesion for the socio-economic transformation of Busoga Kingdom.

Muvawala thanked all leaders of the inter-religious council for the role being played in the ongoing co-ordination of the Busoga Prayer Week. 

Present at the dinner were lands state minister Persis Namuganza, BCD’s director general Anthony Mula, MPs led by Nathan Igeme Nabeta (Jinja South East Constituency), religious leaders, Jinja City Council speaker Bernard Mbayo, Busoga Kingdom ministers, BCD governor Simon Wakaze and members plus the business community.