Museveni asks Bishop Lubaale to mobilise Christians out of poverty

JINJA - The Rev. Can. Assoc. Prof. Dr. Grace Lubaale has been consecrated and enthroned as the 4th Busoga diocesan bishop.

The Sunday (December 14) event at the Kyabazinga Stadium, Bugembe in Jinja city northern division, saw President Yoweri Museveni congratulate Lubaale upon his consecration and thank God for his elevation to this high office as he wished him a successful ministry.

He added that Lubaale’s election and consecration testified to his long-standing devotion to God and the Church.

“I believe the Lord who chose you to serve in this capacity at this particular time had prepared you to fulfil his mandate,” he said.

According to Museveni, Lubaale should, therefore, use his new position to be at the forefront of fighting poverty among Christians.

Museveni said the ruling National Resistance Movement (NRM) government has gained the reputation of being a vanguard of change and transformation.

“It is clear that all the NRM-led struggles, soon or later, end in victory. The war against poverty would not be unexceptional if all the people of Uganda listened to our advice,” the President said.

He added that they had led Ugandans to overthrow oppression and dictatorial regimes, revived Uganda’s economy and restored democracy as well as respect for human life and property.

Also, he they have led Ugandans to defeat illiteracy and killer diseases.

Museveni, who was represented by Vice-President Jessica Alupo, also hailed the Church of Uganda for maintaining a cordial relationship with the Government in working towards the social-economic transformation of Uganda.

He said the Church had exploited the private sector-friendly policies of NRM government to extend social services to all people of Uganda.

The President cited the construction of several schools and hospitals across the country as proof that the Church leadership is concerned about the material well-being of the believers.

Ready to work with the CHurch

However, he appealed to Lubaale to mobilise all Christians in the diocese such that they take part in his ongoing wealth and job creation campaign.

He said the NRM government is ready to work with the Church of Uganda and other faith organisations to mobilise all Ugandans to join the fight against poverty at household and all levels.

Whereas they boast of some success stories in areas where people had followed their advice on wealth and job creation, Museveni said 33% households were outside the money economy since they are still into subsistence farming by working for food alone.

“How can one expect to take their children to school, buy medicine or clothes for them, if they have no money,” he said.

If they wanted to be prosperous with money in their homes, Museveni said they need to transition from subsistence farming to the modern money economy.

Select an economic enterprise

Museveni said the NRM message requires every household to select an economic enterprise in the four sectors of commercial agriculture, industry, services, including information, communication and technology (ICT).

This, according to him, would enable households to become creators of wealth and jobs.

Like in the scripture where Jesus Christ specialised as a carpenter alongside his earthly father Joseph, also, Museveni said every Christian needed to have omwooga (skill or economic specialisation) in an area of economic specialisation that earns them money.

“There, Omwooga was carpentry, and Paul the Apostle specialised in making tents to support his missionary journey. Christians should emulate the example of Jesus Christ,” he urged.

He said the NRM government had put in place the necessary conditions, such as good roads, peace and security to ensure the profitability of business enterprises as well as the integration of the Ugandan market to the regional, African and international markets by pursuing policies that favour the private sector.

However, he said the economic advantages which NRM created needed to be translated into jobs and wealth for the households to develop and be meaningful.

Let the Basoga return to develop the area

Equally, the Busoga kingdom prime minister, Dr Joseph Muvawala, appealed to Lubaale to join Museveni in his campaign of wealth creation.

He said this would be partly achieved by asking the Basoga and those who believe in him who live in Kampala to return and invest back home.

“Ask Christians, the elites and those who believe in you but live in Kampala to return and participate in the development of Busoga,” he urged.

He admitted that the elites were the problem of Busoga as they were not returning, be it investing in Busoga.

“We have the deputy Mufti, another Busoga export, you have a lot of command based on your handover ceremony, return them, they should not hide in Kampala,” he urged.

He appealed to Lubaale to increase the diocese's assets and improve the well-being of the serving and retired clergy to ensure that they were cared for.

Since religion and culture were norms-based, Muvawala pledged on behalf of the kingdom to work closely with Busoga diocese.

He said they needed to reconcile all differences by dropping all the unacceptable practices such that Busoga moved in one direction.

Muvawala said they expect exemplary leadership and stewardship from Lubaale by joining the kingdom to fight diseases, poverty and illiteracy.

He asked the diocese to use the diocesan structure of both the fathers and mothers' unions for social and economic transformation.

“We have no capacity without the church supporting us,” he said.

Archbishop of the Church of Uganda Stephen Kaziimba Mugalu, who was the main celebrant, hailed government’s efforts in dealing with poverty and unemployment in Busoga.

He commended the Busoga for welcoming the transition that enabled them to hold the ceremony, and he called for reconciliation and unity in the diocese, asking Lubaale to focus on teaching God’s word that reforms the head, heart and hands.

Lubaale outlined his agenda of preaching the word of God everywhere, promoting good governance, empowering the clergy and all Christians, while identifying experts, funds and workers to support him in the diocese.

He replaced the Rev. Dr. Paul Naimanhye, who mandatorily retired after turning 65 years.