President Yoweri Kaguta Museveni has urged Kabale Diocese to intensify its preaching on hard work, discipline, unity and socio-economic transformation as Uganda seeks to lift households out of poverty.
The President made the call in a message delivered by the Minister of Health, Dr Chris Baryomunsi, during celebrations marking 60 years of Kabale Diocese and the ordination of 13 priests and 10 deacons at the Our Lady of Good Shepherd Rushoroza Cathedral grounds in Kabale District.
President Museveni congratulated Kabale Diocese upon reaching 60 years since its establishment on April 17, 1966, following its separation from the then Mbarara Diocese.
He commended successive bishops and clergy for their contribution to the spiritual growth of the diocese and the socio-economic transformation of communities across the Kigezi region.
“Today we celebrate 60 years of faith and transformation since Kabale Diocese was erected on April 17, 1966, after being separated from Mbarara Diocese,” Museveni said.
President Museveni recognised the contributions of former bishops, including Bishop Gervasius Placidus Nkalanga, Bishop Barnabas R. Halem’Imana and Bishop Robert-Marie Gay, as well as the current Diocesan Apostolic Administrator, Rt Rev Callist Rubaramira.
He said the Catholic Church remains an important partner in Uganda’s development and national unity, particularly through the provision of education, health and other social services.
Museveni urged the Church to complement evangelisation with messages that encourage communities to improve their livelihoods through hard work, discipline, saving and participation in income-generating activities.
“The mission of evangelism is a call for socio-economic transformation, hard work, discipline and respect for the values that hold communities and families together,” he said.
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The President encouraged Ugandans to move beyond producing food solely for household consumption and actively participate in the money economy.
“The needs of a human being go beyond food, and every Ugandan must be in a position to get money and pay for other needs like medical care, clothing and other facilities,” he said.
He cited government programmes such as skilling initiatives, Savings and Credit Cooperative Organisations (SACCOs) and the Parish Development Model (PDM) as interventions intended to enable households to increase their incomes and participate in the money economy.
Museveni also encouraged Ugandans to embrace regional integration to create wider markets for locally produced goods.
On national unity, he urged religious leaders to promote tolerance and discourage sectarianism.
“The NRM leadership recognises the Church as a key partner in national unity and encourages all church leaders in all denominations to preach the gospel of no more sectarianism and unity in our country,” he said.
He congratulated the 13 newly ordained priests and 10 deacons, urging them to serve God’s people with wisdom, knowledge, skill and humility.
“Blessed is serving God, and He expects you to serve with wisdom, skill, knowledge and humility, yielding to Him for counsel all the time,” he said.
Museveni further challenged the new clergy to remain committed to the spiritual, moral and socio-economic transformation of the communities they will serve.
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Dr Chris Baryomunsi, who is also the Kinkizi East Member of Parliament in Kanungu District, congratulated the newly ordained clergy and prayed for God’s guidance throughout their priestly vocation.
He commended Rt Rev Callist Rubaramira for steering Kabale Diocese’s development beyond spiritual matters to include education, health and other social services.
Baryomunsi said the Kigezi Parliamentary Caucus had recently resolved to strengthen unity among leaders and prioritise development across the region.
He said the caucus would work closely with religious denominations and other faith-based organisations, which he described as important partners in regional development.
He said, for example, that his ministry intends to meet health coordinators from across the Kigezi region to harmonise their health development plans with government interventions aimed at reducing the country’s disease burden.
Baryomunsi noted that about 75 percent of diseases are preventable, requiring stronger collaboration between government, communities and other stakeholders.
Cue in Dr Baryomunsi…on Health Plans….RR//
