First Family hosts thanksgiving service

THANKSGIVING 2018

President Yoweri Museveni and First Lady Janet on Friday hosted the national thanksgiving ceremony for 2018 at State House, Entebbe.

The event, which started at around 3:00pm was attended by high profile individuals, who included religious leaders, politicians, civil servants, diplomats, artists, security chiefs and business men and women, who began arriving as early as 9:00am.

 UPDF officers at the thanksgiving ceremony

As the culture has been in the previous years, before the service started, the President treated his guests to a sumptuous meal accompanied by cold drinks.

Several choirs from different religious groups, including All Saints Cathedral Choir, Lango Diocese, Redeemed Church Mass Choir, Kikandwa Matali Group, St. Charles Lwanga Parish Choir and Whispers of Joy, kept entertaining the guests before the service began.

 Guests at the function

After listening to the melodies, Museveni reminded the clergy and Ugandans of the need for everyone to stick to their roles and urged choirs invited for the national thanksgiving service to avoid politicising songs to praise him and limit themselves to religious messages. 

 A cross-section of the guests

The keynote sermon was delivered by Dr. Barry Lenhardt, an international life coach and the Co-Founder of Living Life By Design from the US, who noted that each person is designed to do certain things and that when we do what we are designed for not obligations, we shine.

The Bishop of Karamoja Diocese, Joseph Abura, who led the opening prayer, prayed for the President and the first family. He also counted the number of achievements which have been ushered into Uganda by President Museveni since he assumed power in 1986 and thanked God for the gift of his life and leadership.

 President Museveni receiving his guests

Dokolo Woman MP, Cecilia Ogwal, who prayed for the country left the congregation mesmerised by the captivating words he used to draw their attention.

In her closing prayer, the First Lady and Minister for Education, Janet Kataaha Museveni, thanked God for the good weather this year that is responsible for the bumper harvests, for peace in families, and for the increasing number of hospitals, schools, and road networks built this year.

 Entertainment from matali group

The key notables at the function were the Vice-President, Edward Kiwanuka Ssekandi, deputy Chief Justice, Justice Alfornse Chigamoy Owiny-Dollo, the Deputy Speaker of Parliament, Jacob Oulanyah and Prime Minister, Ruhakana Rugunda.