Museveni asks Church leaders to mobilise believers into money economy
Museveni says the Church’s role should go beyond addressing the spiritual needs of believers to also improving their physical and economic wellbeing.
State Minister for Trade David Bahati, addressing believers during a fundraising ceremony for St. James Kakiika Church of Uganda on Sunday, September 6, 2026. (Courtesy photos)
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President Yoweri Kaguta Museveni has urged Church leaders across Uganda to take a more active role in mobilising Christians to embrace commercial agriculture and other income-generating sectors as a way of eradicating household poverty.
Museveni says the Church’s role should go beyond addressing the spiritual needs of believers to also improving their physical and economic wellbeing.
The President made the call in a speech delivered by State Minister for Trade David Bahati on his behalf during a fundraising ceremony for St. James Kakiika Church of Uganda on Sunday, September 6, 2026.
Museveni, who was unable to attend the ceremony due to other national engagements, commended the congregation for raising funds towards roofing the church, which is dedicated to the memory of his late mother, Esteri Kokundeka.
He said the Church should work closely with government to transform the lives of Ugandans, noting that Christians must work to improve their earthly conditions even as they await the second coming of Jesus Christ.
He credited the NRM Government with laying a strong foundation for economic transformation through investments in roads, electricity, schools, hospitals, peace and security.
However, he cautioned Ugandans against confusing development with household wealth.
“Development—like a tarmac road or a health centre—belongs to everyone. But wealth belongs to your home,” he said.
Museveni explained that infrastructure only creates opportunities, which households must utilise to generate income.
“A tarmac road will pass by your gate, but it will not put food on your table or money in your pocket if you do not use it to take goods to market,” he said.
The President noted that about 30 percent of Ugandan households remain engaged in subsistence farming, or “okukolera ekidda kyonka”—working primarily to feed themselves.
He said this situation must change if Uganda is to achieve widespread household prosperity.
He particularly encouraged farmers to approach agriculture as a business by applying “ekibaro”—proper calculation of profitability per acre.
The President called upon Church leaders to lead by example and mobilise their congregations to join the money economy through the four sectors.
“This will enable them to contribute to the Church construction projects,” he said.
He also encouraged organised groups to take advantage of government programmes and funds, including the Parish Development Model (PDM) and Emyooga, to create wealth and jobs.
Museveni congratulated the Christians of Kakiika for reaching the roofing stage of their church and called on them to complete the sanctuary while simultaneously building the economic capacity of their households.
“Let us finish the building of this church, but let us also build the capacity of our households to eradicate poverty completely,” he said.