Museveni urges religious leaders to promote economic empowerment among believers

What the report says

President Yoweri Museveni has urged religious leaders to pair spiritual teaching with messages about work, income generation and household welfare, according to Nile Post. In remarks delivered by Vice President Jessica Alupo at prayers organized by the Generation Pastors Network (GPN) at Kololo Independence Grounds in Kampala, he said believers should not focus only on faith matters while neglecting their economic responsibilities.

Museveni framed economic empowerment as part of Christian duty, saying churches can encourage followers to pursue better living standards and avoid poverty at home. He pointed to productive work, commercial agriculture, industry, services and information and communications technology as paths to wealth creation and jobs. He also said the Church helps meet spiritual needs, but people also require food, shelter, health care, education and transport, which depend on money in a modern economy.

The event brought together Christians from multiple Ugandan districts and from neighboring East African countries, including Kenya and Rwanda. Museveni also connected his message to biblical themes of neighborliness and stewardship, using them to support ideas of unity, patriotism and regional integration. Hellen Seku of the National Secretariat for Patriotism Corps welcomed government support for religious freedom and called on church leaders to emphasize mentorship and empowerment.

Apostle Gift Mugisha of GPN said the gathering aimed to help Christians overcome poverty and promote Uganda as a center of revival, while also outlining plans for a SACCO-based financial initiative that could grow into a commercial bank for born-again Christians.