President Yoweri Kaguta Museveni has revealed that born-again Christians can be good agents of socio-economic transformation because of their discipline and stance against wasting lives in unconstructive causes.
“I am glad that you, new Baroquelle, seem to have gotten the point and fully understood the mission of Jesus, which was to evangelize, heal the sick, feed the hungry, and engage in hands-on work. In fact, even St. Paul later It has also been said that anyone who is not working should not even eat,” President Museveni said.
The President made the remarks today at the conclusion of the 4-day Acholi Land Jesus Mission 2023 Crusade held at the Kaunda grounds in Gulu City. The crusade was led by Pastor Patis Rwabwogo, senior minister of the Covenant National Church.
Museveni explained that when he first came to power, a group of religious leaders approached him and asked him to ban the Rebirth religion, claiming that believers are liars and pretending to perform miracles.
“I tell them to leave them alone. If they lie, God will deal with them. I’m glad God led me not to step in that area,” he noted.
The President also took pleasure in noting that the religious groups they hoped he had outlawed have now proven to be a powerful force helping the administration push its agenda of socioeconomic transformation.
“Now with Patience, when they are in school, I often expose them to our culture, especially wealth creation, and she absorbs it very seriously. Even now she and her husband are a big farmer.”Museway The President explained.
Museveni further thanked the Lord for ordaining a priest in his family nearly 150 years after the modern church arose.
“A lot of people don’t know that my family are cattle breeders. We were never involved in the government or the church. That’s why I was the first in my family to work for the government when I was hired as a civil servant in 1970.” Musewe General Nee pointed out that before, no one in my family worked in the government because they were always busy raising cattle. He added that he had never paid much attention to what Pastor Patiens was doing until recently reading her Book “Jesus’ Africa”.
“America is one of the most developed countries in the world and was actually founded by reborn people. I heard there is a very active Christian group in Korea that is trying to change the country there. So, you should click and listen to their news .”
President Museveni further emphasized the importance of religion to the development of a country like Uganda.
“The people of Acholi and the people of Africa in general, we need the message of religion (Christianity and Islam) because traditional society has its own strength but there is a lot of pessimism, which is caused by the problems we face and the low level of technology , but now we have science which, when combined with religion, can help us solve many problems,” he emphasized.
“I’m happy for your mission. It’s a good idea for the government to work with you (religious groups) to change the people.”
On the other hand, President Museveni presided over a prayer for forgiveness and reconciliation before signing the Acholi Regional Prayer Declaration.
He also pledged to provide two tractors to reborn people in the Acholi subregion to help them realize the four dimensions of Jesus, which includes working with hands to change their livelihoods.
With regard to the land conflict in Apa, the President assured the people of Acholi that the government was already dealing with the matter following the establishment of a judicial inquiry committee.
“The Apa problem is a simple one, our constitution has already solved it, the constitution says we should respect the colonial borders. The map is there, we will go to find out where Apa is based on the colonial map, and it doesn’t matter where it is located , because Ugandans are free to live anywhere. So, where is the problem? Why are you fighting? That’s why we have now appointed a Judicial Inquiry Committee to deal with this. They will find out who caused these question.”
Pastor Patiens thanked the president for always finding time to attend their sermons every time he was invited.
“The people of Acholi are very pleased to host you in Mzee,” said Pastor Patiens.
She also told President Museveni that those four days had changed their lives and believed it had brought new life to the land of Acholi.
“What God has done here, I have never experienced before; it was as if heaven opened and he did come. These four days changed the lives of all of us and I believe he opened the light for a new land of Acholi , ” Reverend Patiens added.
Outgoing Governor of the National Fellowship of the Born Again Pentecostal Church in Uganda Bishop Joshua Ruwere praised President Museveni and the National Resistance Movement (NRM) government for recognizing and uniting the Born Again Pentecostal Church in Uganda.
“Over 30 years ago, we as Baroccoles fought, but your government managed to reconcile and unite us. We thank you, Your Excellency. We were in the gutter, but you brought us and united us We are now included in all government programmes. We also have two representatives in the Uganda Interfaith Council and we are now growing stronger every day,” said Bishop Lwere.
He also told the President that, as Reborn, they are now embarking on a journey of socio-economic transformation in Uganda.
“My former apostle Alex Mitala was one of the largest farmers in Kiboga and Pastor Robert Kayanja also has a big project in northern Uganda. We are no longer the directionless people of the old days in Barocole We are now talking about transformation and pan-Africanism.”
Hon. Grace Freedom Kwiyucwiny, Minister of State for Northern Uganda, told participants that while the gunfire in northern Uganda has subsided, people are still being hurt and that reconciliation will be the way to bring people together in their efforts for development the only way.
Senior pastors and representatives of other faiths, members of parliament and cultural leaders from all over the country attended the ceremony.
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