Teach Ugandans How to Pray, Museveni Asks Religious Leaders
President Yoweri Museveni has urged religious leaders to teach their followers to adopt a culture of praying and doing which enabled the government to defeat various challenges experienced in the year 2021.
Museveni made the appeal during the annual thanksgiving service which he hosted together with the First Lady and Minister for Education and Sports, Janet Kataha Museveni at State House, Entebbe.
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Recounting the various challenges, the president said it was the Lord that enabled the country to defeat them.
“Locusts (enzige) invaded us but we finished them without eating people’s crops, the landslides in Kasese, the floods chased some people who had invaded the lake, Covid-19, cattle rustlers in Karamoja, the Bijjambiya in Masaka, bomb blasts in Kampala- they were supposed to be more but ended to be five- elections, terrorists, there were also the floating Islands which were going to destroy the dams and we removed them and rising water levels which came at almost the same time. The Lord enabled us to defeat them,” Museveni said.
He thanked God for enabling Uganda to overcome the challenges.
On the issue of livelihood and health, the president advised Ugandans to speak the same language in order to address the issues, noting that “many tongues spoil the growth,” a recreation of the famous English adage “Many cooks spoil the broth.”
Museveni explained that the National Resistance Movement (NRM) addressed these issues long ago in writing among others but some few people listened and cited an example of a group in Kabarole led by Nyakana which listened to NRM.
He explained that the group had nothing but began commercial agriculture on one acre of land and now they are earning Shs240m (equivalent to $66000 per year) and therefore urged other Ugandans to copy them so us to uplifts their standards of living.
During the thanksgiving, the First Lady, Janet Museveni asked God to protect Uganda during this festive season and after crossing into the New Year 2022.
“As we cross into the New Year, Oh Lord, help us to possess our land as a nation, give us more blessings and new opportunities. Please, God, give us the ability, the might, grace and anointing to possess our promised land in every sector of our society. When we are weak help us to be strong,” she prayed.
The service was led by Pr. Dr. Daniel Matte, the president of the Seventh-day Adventist Uganda Union.
His co-celebrants were Dr. Samuel Kaziimba Mugalu, Archbishop, Church of the Province of Uganda; Sheikh Abdallah Ssemambo, Dr. Joseph Serwadda, the leader of the Born Again Faith in Uganda; Bishop Joshua Lwere, the general overseer of the National Alliance of Pentecostal and Evangelical Churches in Uganda and a guest preacher, Rt. Rev. Dr. Joseph Antony Zziwa, the chairman of the Uganda Episcopal Conference and Bishop of Kiyinda Mityana diocese.
The prayers were held under the theme: “Because of the Lord’s great Love, we are not consumed, for His compassion never fails.”
In his sermon, Rt. Rev. Dr. Zziwa advised Ugandans to applaud God for the love he has shown them.
“It is not a mean achievement that Uganda successfully managed the awful (Covid-19) pandemic with minimal loss. All this is a testimony of God’s love and compassion,” Zziwa said. He quoted Psalms 116:12 and 13; and Psalms 86:1.
He also applauded the government of Uganda, health workers who worked tirelessly to save the lives of Ugandans and advised them to continue loving one another as God has Loved us.
Apostle John Bunjo of Christian Restoration Ministries International prayed for national stability and unity while Pastor Laban Jjumba of Intercessors for Uganda prayed for the national economy, among others.
Notable dignitaries that attended the prayers include Maj. Jessica Alupo, Vice President of Uganda, Justice Richard Butera,the Deputy Chief Justice, Thomas Tayebwa, Government Chief Whip, Maj. Gen. Hon Jim Muhwezi, Minister of Security; Noame Kabasharira chairperson, Presidential Affairs Committee, Amb. Barbra Nekesa Oundo, National Treasurer NRM; David Bahati Minister of State for Industry and Kiryowa Kiwanuka, the Attorney General among others.
