Summary:
- Citing the book of Genesis, Mr. Museveni explained that God gave humanity two assignments: to “multiply and fill the earth” and to “establish dominion over nature.” While the first command has been fulfilled, he argued that the second has been neglected. “Man is a special creature,” he said, urging believers to use their wisdom and knowledge to control nature.
MBARARA: President Yoweri Museveni has called on religious leaders to come together in the fight against poverty and underdevelopment, identifying them as some of the major challenges facing the country.
Speaking at the conclusion of the 6th International Ecumenical Fellowship (IEF) Conference in Mbarara district, the President encouraged religious leaders to continue mobilizing their followers to work towards achieving a decent standard of living.
“In the pursuit of spiritual goals, some believers neglect their earthly responsibilities, resulting in poverty within their households. If we have seen the spiritual light, we must also see the economic light. We cannot be spiritually enlightened yet remain in economic darkness,” said Mr. Museveni in a speech delivered by Vice President Maj. (Rtd) Jessica Alupo.
Mr. Museveni emphasized that poverty and underdevelopment affect people of all religions. He expressed his satisfaction that delegates at the conference were committed to fostering unity to address these common challenges.
The conference, which attracted participants from Kenya, Rwanda, Burundi, South Sudan, the USA, and other countries, was organized under the theme “Religion and Development” with a special focus on achieving Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) 1 and 3 ending poverty and promoting good health and well-being for all.
The President noted that poverty and underdevelopment, especially in the least developed countries, stem from a failure to harness and manage natural resources effectively.
Citing the book of Genesis, Mr. Museveni explained that God gave humanity two assignments: to “multiply and fill the earth” and to “establish dominion over nature.” While the first command has been fulfilled, he argued that the second has been neglected. “Man is a special creature,” he said, urging believers to use their wisdom and knowledge to control nature.
“Man cannot simply say, ‘I am suffering from jiggers, so there’s nothing I can do.’ No! Ensure you do not have jiggers. Similarly, do not say, ‘I am cold because I have no blanket.’ Man has the capacity to buy or make a blanket. Unlike a cow that requires someone to build it a shelter, man can create his own solutions,” he explained.
Mr. Museveni stressed that understanding and studying nature are essential to establishing dominion over it.
“God gave man the assignment to understand nature and use it to solve problems,” he added.
He urged religious groups to emphasize both mandates: multiplying and filling the Earth and establishing dominion over nature.
“Man has both spiritual and physical needs,” he said, pointing out that while churches and mosques cater to spiritual needs, there are also physical needs such as food, water, shelter, medicine, schools, clothing, transportation, and jobs.
In a modern economy, Mr. Museveni noted, these goods and services cannot be obtained without money. He emphasized the importance of engaging in profitable enterprises within the four sectors of commercial agriculture, industry, services, and ICT to create jobs and wealth.
The President assured the public that the Government will continue to maintain peace and security across the country and invest in essential social and economic infrastructure to attract local and foreign investments, create jobs, and increase incomes.
However, he stressed that this infrastructure must translate into jobs and wealth for households. “It is in everyone’s best interest to continue advancing towards modernity, development, and political stability,” he said.
Finally, President Museveni expressed his gratitude to Bishop Sheldon, President of IEF Africa, and all the conference organizers for convening such a significant ecumenical gathering to discuss issues of development and socio-economic transformation.
The Rt. Rev. Prof. Fred Sheldon Mwesigwa, Bishop of Ankole Diocese and Chancellor of Bishop Stuart University, said that IEF Africa holds conferences every two years, addressing themes such as unity in diversity, reconciliation, peace, religion and development, and health.
This year’s theme, “Religion and Development,” aimed to challenge the perception that religion is only concerned with spiritual matters. Through various presentations, facilitators argued that religion is a key vehicle for development.
“Religion and development teach us to be practical in addressing religious issues. Jesus Christ often used agricultural metaphors, and he was a carpenter. Stewardship, money, and business were also central themes in his teachings,” Bishop Mwesigwa said.
He urged the faithful to stop demonizing money, noting that there are more verses in the Bible about money than about love. “This alone should make Christians think. When I last checked, money had over 2,000 verses compared to about 400 for love. This indicates that there is something positive about it. So, let us stop demonizing money and material things,” he said, encouraging Christians to embrace the connection between religion and development.
Bishop Mwesigwa also expressed his appreciation to President Museveni, church institutions, government departments, Bishop Stuart University, and various individuals, including politicians, for their support of the Ankole Diocese.
He reminded President Museveni of the ongoing development projects in the Ankole Diocese, including a business complex, agricultural projects, a Millennium Sacco, a poultry farm, commercial buildings in Mbarara City, and educational institutions.
Prof. John Mugisha, Vice Chancellor of Bishop Stuart University and one of the key organizers of the conference, said that over the past three days, a diverse array of experienced speakers, scholars, researchers, and practitioners shared insights on the intersection of trade, industry, and sustainable development, as well as the government’s efforts in this area.
The presence of Vice President Alupo at the conference’s closure underscored the importance of the event and highlighted the government’s commitment to fostering dialogue and collaboration on issues of development and religion, both in Uganda and beyond.
In her remarks, Vice President Alupo conveyed warm greetings from President Museveni and the First Lady, Mrs. Janet Museveni, who is also the Minister of Education and Sports. She assured Bishop Mwesigwa that all the requests made during his address would be relayed to the President.
These requests included a Shs2.5 billion fund and the President’s visit to review all livelihood programs and projects within the Diocese. She also assured the Bishop that President Museveni would begin his nationwide tour next month.
