Museveni urges believers to join money economy

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President Yoweri Museveni has used a church dedication ceremony in Wakiso District to renew a familiar message of Uganda’s future not depending on prayer and public infrastructure, but on households moving from subsistence to wealth creation.

Speaking through Minister of State for Economic Monitoring Beatrice Akello Akori at the official opening and dedication of the Life Restoration Ministries sanctuary in Nansana-Bujjuko on April 25, Museveni praised what he described as a long-standing partnership between the government and the church in transforming communities across Uganda.

The remarks were contained in a Uganda Media Centre press release issued on Saturday.

“While the most obvious task of the Church is the spiritual well-being of the people, the Church has also participated in carrying out developmental projects focused on enhancing the well-being of the communities,” the President said.

His speech blended scripture, economics and politics, a combination that has increasingly defined his outreach to faith leaders.

“While working for heaven, it is imperative for religious leaders to remind believers not to neglect their earthly responsibilities,” Museveni said, citing Philippians 3:20.

“The Bible says that:…We are a colony of heaven on earth… This is an important spiritual truth that implores Christians to be concerned with the affairs of the earth, as they prepare for the heavenly kingdom.”

He urged churches to promote practical livelihoods alongside spiritual growth, arguing that faith and productivity should reinforce one another.

“All believers should take the example of Jesus Christ, who, besides teaching, praying and fasting, was also a carpenter. He earned his bread as a carpenter,” he said.

“Therefore, religious leaders should use their pulpits to encourage the believers to work towards eradicating poverty.”

The speech also returned to one of Museveni’s longest-running economic themes: the distinction between national development and private wealth.

He credited the NRM government with investing in electricity, roads, schools, hospitals, peace and security, saying those priorities had laid the foundation for socio-economic transformation. However, he cautioned that infrastructure alone does not guarantee prosperity.

“Development alone is not enough; though it must come first,” he said, adding that development is a collective good, while wealth and jobs belong to individuals, families, groups or companies.

That distinction, central to Museveni’s political messaging for years, speaks to a broader challenge in Uganda’s economy: how to translate macro-level growth into rising household incomes.

“We should not have spectators in the drive towards increasing household incomes,” he said.

“The remaining 33% of the households, which are still engaged in subsistence farming, i.e. working only for the stomach, must be mobilised to join the money economy.”

He identified commercial agriculture, industrialisation, services and ICT as the four major sectors capable of generating jobs and wealth, and called on political, cultural and religious leaders to mobilise communities into productive enterprise.

The ceremony also celebrated the opening of the new sanctuary, which Museveni described as “an important milestone towards building God's kingdom, on earth.”

He commended Pastor Kenneth Kato Mwesigwa for spearheading the construction of the church and thanked Pastor Robert Kayanja for what he called tireless efforts in spreading the gospel and fostering good relations between Pentecostal churches and the NRM government.

Museveni contributed sh 30 million toward the cause.

Pastor Kayanja, according to the release, thanked the President for promoting harmony, peace and security in Uganda.

Pastor Mwesigwa expressed gratitude for state support and said the church’s mission extends beyond worship.

“We are truly grateful, and we would like to convey our thanks to the President for the freedom of worship,” he said.

He added that the church remains committed to community outreach, youth empowerment and charitable initiatives.

The event featured prayers, gospel music performances and messages from various religious leaders.