'Engage in meaningful income-generating activities'

MBARARA - The Bishop of Ankole diocese, Rt Rev Fred Sheldon Mwesigwa, has challenged Christians in the diocese to focus on uplifting their families through engaging in meaningful income-generating projects. 

Bishop Mwesigwa, however, cautioned them against venturing into projects that are not Godly. 

The bishop made the comments today (Wednesday, January 1, 2025) while delivering his New Year sermon to Christians who turned up for New Year service at St.James Cathedral-Ruharo in Mbarara City.

Bishop Mwesigwa informed the Christians that this year his diocese is going to focus more on coffee growing, and he encouraged Christians to embrace coffee growing to boost their family incomes. 

He informed them that the diocese has already planted 223 acres of coffee on church land and they have acquired a coffee processing machine to venture into coffee value addition.

He encouraged youth to exploit every opportunity around them including land and start income projects and avoid wasting their time on things that don’t add value to their life.

“There is one of the richest people in Mbarara city, as a researcher, I reached out to him and his story is amazing, he told me that he started with only two TV sets in his shop but now has accumulated billions in investment," Bishop Mwesigwa told Christians, urging youth to start small.

Mwesigwa encouraged youth to exploit every opportunity around them including land and start income projects and avoid wasting their time on things that don’t add value to their life. (Credit: Abdulkarim Ssengendo)

He noted that their target is to reach people in their homes with the word of God and will also preach the word of God through media. 

Bishop also said the diocese will also emphasise health issues, especially addressing issues that are leading to increasing cases of non-communicable diseases in the country, and advocated for peace among all Ugandans, especially in this year when the country is going into intense elections. 

“Find better ways of navigating situations and challenges, some of the difficult things that happen to us are opportunities, never give up when such happen to you, and don’t commit suicide when faced with troubles," he added. 

In his message, Rev.Canon Bobs Nathan Mwesigye- dean St. James Cathedral thanked Christians for supporting church projects but urged them to set good targets for themselves and their families in the new year. 

Rev. Canon Edson Abasa, the Ankole diocesan secretary, asked Christians to reflect on the challenges they went through last year and find better solutions.

He challenged them to continue supporting the church, renew their faith in God and repent their sins.