NRM,FDC raise millions for church project

Sep 19, 2012

President Yoweri Museveni has today boosted a fundraising drive by Catholics in Busoga region to raise sh239m in cash and pledges as part of activities to mark the ground breaking ceremony for St. Gonzaga Gonza Iganga minor seminary.

By Vision reporter

President Yoweri Museveni has today boosted a fundraising drive by Catholics in Busoga region to raise sh239m in cash and pledges as part of activities to mark the ground breaking ceremony for St. Gonzaga Gonza Iganga minor seminary.

The colourful ceremony saw Jinja Mayor Baswari Muhammed Kezaala contribute Sh1m for President Yoweri Museveni’s portrait.

 His offer was however beaten by various NRM supporters including members of parliament led by government chief whip Justine Kasule Lumumba and the Jinja Municipal NRM chairman Moses Kalisa Karangwa who raised sh20m.
 
The game was however upped when an angry FDCs Vice President for Eastern Region Proscovia Salaamu Musumba, a staunch Catholic walked to the podium and said her party would take the portrait if well-wishers did not raise 27 million shillings for it to represent 27 years that the NRM has been in power.

“I’m very angry. You should raise 27 million shillings to represent the 27 fighters who went to the bush and the 27 years the NRM has been in power. If you don’t, I will take away your chairman and you don’t want to know what I will do to him,” Musumba said, causing excitement with the NRMs Karangwa quickly rescuing the situation and wrestling away the portrait at over 30 million shillings.

 The portrait was auctioned by the Bishop of Jinja Diocese Charles Martin Wamika. Previously President Yoweri Museveni contributed sh30m in cash and another sh70m in pledges before auctioning Bishop Wamikas portrait at sh8m.

Addressing the gathering, President Yoweri Museveni commended Bishop Wamika for emphasizing wealth creation and poverty eradication in homes, urging both political and religious leaders to always sensitize the people on the importance of wealth creation in homes as opposed to begging.

“Leaders are always talking about services like hospitals and schools, infrastructure like roads to facilitate development and peace and security. What they never talk about is wealth creation in the homes. Wealth starts from people’s homes and that is where we get money for infrastructure development,” he said.

The President urged leaders to promote a culture of production among the people through modern agro production saying this will promote development. He gave the example of youth from Busoga who had a working tour in Western Uganda and returned to implement some of the best practices in agro production, urging religious leaders to promote the fight against poverty and spread knowledge about wealth creation.

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