Religious leaders urge families to have manageable number of children

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Religious leaders have called on couples to have only the number of children they can adequately care for.

“If your land cannot even allow you to plant one mango tree, why should you have ten children?” said Bishop Constantine Mbonabingi of the Orthodox Church in South Sudan. “Look at Uganda – there are about 46 million people. If we keep producing another 46 million, in the future, we will have to live on top of each other. People should have only the children they can take care of.”

Quoting the scripture, Mbonabingi noted, “The Bible in Timothy says any person who cannot take care of his family is worse than a pagan. If you produce many children who become a burden to the community, you are worse than a pagan.”

Mbonabingi was speaking during a press conference on July 11, 2025, as Uganda joined the rest of the world to commemorate World Population Day, Mbonabingi, who also serves as a champion of family planning with the Faith for Family Health Initiative (3FHi), shared testimonies of families that have improved their livelihoods by having fewer children. “Some people initially planned to have ten children, but now understand that having a manageable number is necessary.”

Deputy Mufti Uganda Muslim Supreme Council Sheikh Ali Waiswa speaking during a press conference at Lweza Training and Conference Centre. (Photo by Violet Nabatanzi)

Bishop Amos Magezi of Northwest Ankole Diocese said, “There’s a misconception. When people hear ‘family planning,’ they think it means to stop having children. They cite the Bible saying ‘be fruitful and multiply and fill the earth,’ thinking it means they should never stop.”

He clarified, “It’s true the Bible talks about multiplication, but not that one couple should fill the earth. It’s about having children you can educate and provide for, because education is key to development.”

Magezi also highlighted the health benefits of family planning. “When you have children you cannot provide good health for, it’s not worth it.”

He added that religious leaders have a unique capacity to reach communities beyond the pulpit, through women, men, youth, and children’s groups under church structures. “Religious leaders are gatekeepers. They should not keep this message to themselves.”

Deputy Mufti of the Uganda Muslim Supreme Council, Sheikh Ali Waiswa, who chairs the Faith for Family Health Initiative (3FHi) and serves as a national champion from the Population Secretariat, pledged to continue mobilising communities to promote positive health behaviours and advocate for inclusive health programmes.

He shared a story from one mosque, where a young couple, Aisha and Ibrahim, chose to space their children after learning about family planning from a local health worker. “Because of child spacing, Aisha completed her education and secured a teaching job, while Ibrahim found stable employment, and their children are healthy and in school.”

Waiswa also urged parents to take advantage of government interventions like Universal Primary Education (UPE) by sending their children to school and ensuring they meet the basic requirements to stay there.

Jackie Katana, founder and executive director of 3FHi, reaffirmed their commitment to strengthening the capacity of religious leaders across Uganda as champions of family planning. She noted that 3FHi, an interfaith NGO, is dedicated to improving health and well-being.