President Museveni has called on Christians to work diligently to improve their living standards, emphasising that prayer without action is useless.
Speaking at celebrations to mark 100 years of Lubaga Cathedral, Museveni urged the congregation to engage in economic activities to strengthen their faith, support the church, and contribute taxes for national development.
Dressed in a white shirt and his signature hat, Museveni arrived at the cathedral early and was received by Archbishop Paul Ssemogerere, Prime Minister Robinah Nabbanja, and dignitaries from the government and Buganda Kingdom.
He was then escorted to a specially prepared tent on the eastern wing of the cathedral, where proceedings began promptly with the singing of the national anthem, the East African Community anthem, and the Buganda anthem.
In his speech, Museveni shared a personal anecdote, revealing that he could have become a bishop in the late 1960s due to his active involvement in the church, including serving as president of the Scripture Union.
He encouraged the congregation to embrace the Parable of the Talents, urging them to utilise their God-given abilities, whether in business, leadership, sports, or other fields, regardless of their background or tribe, for the benefit of society.
The president also praised the White Fathers missionaries who founded the cathedral 100 years ago, marvelling at their foresight.
Archbishop Paul Ssemogerere expressed gratitude to Museveni for honouring the invitation and for his financial contribution of Shs 300 million towards the rehabilitation of Lubaga Cathedral. He commended the president’s poverty alleviation initiatives, including the Parish Development Model, Skilling Uganda, and Operation Wealth Creation.
He also called on Museveni to address the issue of land grabbing, which he said has affected both ordinary Ugandans and church properties. Additionally, Ssemogerere urged political leaders to maintain peace and unity during the electoral period, avoiding divisive attacks for the sake of Uganda’s progress.
Lubaga Cathedral was established in 1925 and has hosted three reigning popes since 1969. Catholics from various dioceses and beyond attended the colourful centenary celebrations.
