President Yoweri Museveni has challenged Christians to stop folding their hands and only ‘shout’ Jesus’ name without making any efforts to improve on their household earnings.
The Head of State has therefore, advised that every Christian must have omwooga (an area of economic specialization) that brings them money.
“The scriptures tell us that even our Lord Jesus Christ specialized as a carpenter, alongside His earthly father, Joseph. Their omwooga was carpentry. Apostle Paul specialized in making tents to support his missionary journeys. Therefore, I urge you to emulate Jesus Christ and Paul” Museveni said in his speech read by his Second-In-Command H.E Maj. Jessica Alupo who represented him at the consecration of the 5th Bishop of Karamoja (Anglican) Diocese in Moroto.
The President borrowed the biblical teachings of Apostle Paul who wrote in 2 Thessalonians, chapter 3:10-13, that:
“If anyone will not work, neither shall he eat. For we hear that there are some who walk among you in a disorderly manner,
not working at all, but are busybodies. Now those who are such we command and exhort through our Lord Jesus that
they work in quietness and eat their own bread.”
He explained that this reading shows that the wealth creation campaign is rooted in the Christian teachings.
Museveni said he was looking forward to working with the new Bishop Micheal Chorey especially in the area of boosting household incomes and job creation.
“I congratulate Bishop Michael Chorey,
upon your election and consecration; and wish you a successful tenure as Bishop of Karamoja Diocese” he said.
He assured the new Bishop and Christians of government’s support towards their efforts to build and develop the Diocese.
The Fountain of Honor noted that government’s cooperation with the Church and the other faith groups in the country, remains strong, adding that it is a cooperation whose main goal is to mobilize God’s people to join the fight against poverty in their homes.
Museveni said that NRM; having rooted out tyranny of past regimes and killer diseases among others, there’s evidence that all the NRM-led struggles, soon or later, end in victory.
“The war against poverty will not be an exception, if all the people of Uganda listen to the advice of the NRM.
Already, there are numerous success stories, especially in areas where the people have followed our advice on wealth and jobs creation” he noted.
He reiterated the NRM message that obliges every household to select an economic enterprise in the four sectors of: commercial agriculture, industries, ICT and Services.
He said this will enable the households to become creators of wealth and jobs and also reduce on the percentage of those outside the Money economy which currently stands at 38%.
“They are in the subsistence economy of working only for food. How can one expect to take their children to school or buy medicine and clothes for them, if they have no money? Therefore, if you want to build prosperous and stable homes, you must transition from subsistence farming to the modern money economy” the son of Mama Esteeri Kokundeka and Mzee Amos Kaguta said through gorgeous Alupo who’s Katakwi’s Woman MP.
THANK YOU BISHOP EMERITUS JOSEPH ABURA
Meanwhile, Museveni showered praises on outgoing Bishop Emeritus Joseph Abura, for mobilizing the Christians to support the government efforts to usher peace, stability and development in Karamoja region.
He noted that 17 years ago, when Abura became Bishop of Karamoja Diocese, this region was still grappling with a number of challenges that included: poor roads, lack of electricity, insecurity, etcetera.
“On account of these challenges, the region’s economic potential remained largely unexploited. Karamoja is endowed with a number of important minerals like limestone, marble, gold among others” he said but added that his government prioritized construction of critical infrastructure, like roads, electricity supply, schools, hospitals in order attract local and foreign investments to the area.
“The region is now gradually transforming into a mining and industrial hub. Karamoja is there to prove what the scripture says that “The Last shall be first.” And yet, this is just the beginning, because the leaders and people of Karamoja have demonstrated great unity and enthusiasm for development and socio-economic transformation” he said.
