Minister Babalanda Calls on Religious Leaders to Preach Wealth-Creation Alongside the Gospel to Combat Poverty

What the report says

NAMAYINGO — Ugandan Minister for the Presidency Babirye Milly Babalanda addressed worshippers at the close of a week-long Seventh-day Adventist camp retreat in Namayingo District, according to Watchdog Uganda. She attended the event in her role as MP for Budiope West and as director of the Busoga SDA Women field, and relayed greetings said to be from President Yoweri Museveni, First Lady Janet Museveni and senior Office of the President officials.

Babalanda thanked the retreat organizers for time spent in Bible study and worship, and said the government views religious institutions as partners in national development, moral guidance and community unity. She argued that pastors and church leaders should also encourage people to take up government wealth-creation initiatives as a way to address poverty.

She named several programmes, including the Parish Development Model, Emyooga, Youth Livelihood Programme, Operation Wealth Creation and GROW, and urged households to use them with discipline, savings and hard work. She also promoted the 4-Acre Model for smallholder families, describing a mix of cash crops, fruit, food crops and pasture, alongside poultry and other livestock options depending on faith and community practice.

The retreat brought together SDA members and local leaders from Namayingo and nearby districts for prayer, Bible study and fellowship. The broader message reflects the Ugandan government’s long-running emphasis on faith groups as channels for civic messaging and poverty-reduction efforts.