Archbishop, Stanley Ntagali  preaching to the congregation. Photos by Juliet Kasirye
           
The Church of Uganda archbishop, Stanley Ntagali, has said the (Church) cannot separate money earned by Christians through morally acceptable means from the ill-gotten.

In his Christmas homily at All Saints Cathedral in Nakasero, a Kampala suburb, the archbishop said he was once asked by someone about how the church deals with money given by the corrupt in offertories.

“That is a very complicated question. I told that person we pray for all the money and the people who bring it. It is hard to separate bad money from good money,” he explained.

He stated that God is interested in the hearts and intentions of the worshipers giving money, and not how much they offer. However, Ntagali said the corrupt ought to mend their ways so they are not remembered for corruption.

“People come to Church and praise the Lord but praise other gods outside. It is not bad to work hard and get money, but it should be used to praise the Lord,” he added.

He decried what he called the high levels of unemployment and poverty in the countryside despite the fact that the economy has been “growing”.

 The minister of Foreign Affairs, Sam Kuteesa and his wife interacts with one of the Christians after the Christmas service at All Saints Cathedral Nakasero 

 Former Makerere University Chancellor Prof Mondo Kagonyera and other Christians.

The unemployment, the archbishop stated, has frustrated the young people who have searched for jobs in vain for many years.

“Some have resorted to alcohol and drug abuse out of frustrated. When you go to the rural areas, the poverty level is high. Young people are being trafficked under the guise of getting them jobs abroad,” he added.

But as the world continues to get bombarded with “bad news” from the events happening around the globe by the international and local media platforms, Ntagali stated that Jesus Christ remains the only source of the good news and hope.