As the country gears up for greater economic transformation, leaders of born-again faith have been urged to take an active role in promoting wealth creation among their congregations.
This is according to Col. Edith Nakalema, the Senior Presidential Adviser on Anti-corruption, in her address to a mammoth gathering of pastors from Greater Mukono districts.
In her message, delivered by Stephen Kaheru, the administrator of the State House Investors’ Protection Unit, Nakalema appealed to the pastors to use their platforms to motivate their followers to adopt productive livelihoods and participate in the money economy.
During a leadership retreat organised by the Love, Peace, and Unity Pastors’ Destiny Forum at Mt. Lebanon Cathedral in Mukono, Kaheru conveyed President Yoweri Museveni’s vision for wealth creation.
He further emphasised that every household should be encouraged to produce either a good or service, that promotes economic growth and financial independence among Christians.
“The President recognises the role of the Church leaders, in spreading the message on wealth creation among the believers,” Nakalema noted in her message.
She added that; “This is because they wield tremendous influence and respect, in their respective communities. They enjoy proximity with the people and frequently interact with members of the public.”
With around 38 percent of households still stuck in poverty, relying on subsistence farming and growing crops mainly for food, with only a small surplus for sale, Nakalema highlighted that the country is exploring various initiatives to tackle the poverty issue.
“Food is not the only human need. There are other needs for shelter, medicine, education, clothing, transport, etc. To meet these needs, you need to have a source of income that generates money,” Nakalema noted.
The government has introduced several wealth funds to provide affordable credit to individuals and organised groups involved in production activities.
The wealth funds, which include the Youth Fund, Emyooga Fund, and the Parish Development Model, are designed to help extend affordable credit to those engaged in productive ventures.
Nakalema stressed that Christians should be encouraged to take advantage of these government programs to improve their livelihoods.
According to President Yoweri Museveni, there are four key sectors where individuals and groups can choose enterprises to generate wealth and create jobs including commercial farming, industries, services, and ICT.
For commercial farming, he advised selecting crops with high returns per acre, especially for households with smaller land holdings.
High-yield crops like coffee and fruits, as well as ventures like poultry farming, dairy farming, and piggery (for non-Muslims), are recommended.
The president further noted that considering land size is crucial for choosing the right enterprise to ensure profitability.
He believes that by engaging each household in an income-generating activity, the government will achieve its socio-economic transformation goal under the NRM administration.
Uganda’s Investment Climate
Nakalema highlighted that Uganda’s investment climate is shaped by political and economic stability, the promotion of private enterprises, a liberalised economy, improved infrastructure, and a zero-tolerance approach to corruption.
“Our country is ready for investment. I want to commend the Church for its significant role in the economy by setting up projects that have created job opportunities. Thank you for partnering with the government to develop our country,” Col. Nakalema remarked.
Captain Dan Barigye Bashisha, in charge of mobilisation and an ISO representative from the president’s office, urged church leaders to embrace the development mindset by addressing attitudes toward wealth creation.
He advised them to adopt business intelligence, which involves researching business ventures before making decisions, and to prioritise tasks effectively.
Captain Barigye further noted that religious leaders should influence the economic development of their communities.
He challenged the notion that wealth is the root of evil, suggesting instead that “poverty is the source of all evil,” encouraging Christians to see poverty as a disease that needs to be eradicated.
Economic Transformation Testimony
Stephen Mugwanya, Senior Pastor at God’s Center of Blessings Church-Bweyogerere, shares how his congregation was significantly impacted by the economic transformation retreats during the COVID-19 period.
Despite facing financial constraints, the church members were inspired by the knowledge gained and decided to start a saving group.
“We learned many lessons from the COVID-19 experience, which drove us to start saving. Listening to other members’ testimonies made me realise that lamenting was not productive. Instead, we needed to find solutions, especially for those struggling to provide for their families,” Pastor Mugwanya explained.
The group registered officially at the municipality to ensure proper governance, opened a bank account, and established a clear plan for saving, borrowing, repayment, and planning. I
In just the first year, they saved UGX130 million and are now successfully using their savings to sustain their businesses.
Pastor Mugwanya believes that overcoming poverty starts with growing your food for home consumption rather than relying on market purchases or other sources.
He drew a parallel from Genesis 2:8-9, where the Lord placed man in the Garden of Eden before creating a companion for him.
He expressed surprise that today, people often focus on starting families before ensuring their financial stability, suggesting that, like the garden, a man should first establish a solid foundation before pursuing other goals.
What Holds Back the Church?
Kenneth Ntege, Mukono District Commercial Officer, points out that many Christians struggle to start businesses due to traditional thinking. He says that while they focus on evangelism, they often overlook the need to provide for their daily needs.
He encourages them to muster the courage to act on business ideas as they come.
“It only takes a simple talent to benefit from programs like Emyooga and NAADs. Join groups because when you work together, you can make demands on the government, which will respond more quickly,” Ntege advised.
He is concerned that many Christians are focused only on making ends meet rather than pursuing economic growth.
“Adopt a self-help mindset. Many people live just to eat, but what are you contributing to the market? Simple goods come from neighbouring districts, so what are you trading in Mukono? Start small businesses instead of wasting time gossiping or visiting friends without purpose,” he added.
Practicability
Pastor Samuel Lwandasa, overseer of the Love, Peace, and Unity Pastors’ Destiny Forum, welcomed the idea of creating a one-day market for Christians to sell produce from their gardens.
He believes this will encourage more Christians to grow their food, even if it’s just in their backyards. He also suggested starting small industries and savings groups (SACCOs) to act as banks.
He proposed expanding these development efforts to other districts, starting with churches in Greater Mukono and eventually the Central Region.
This retreat helps church leaders better understand how to guide their followers in taking advantage of development opportunities to improve their communities.
Mike Sseggawa, the Deputy Resident District Commissioner for Mukono District, praised Pastor Lwandasa for his dedication to improving both the church and the community.
He urged church leaders to apply the economic advice from the retreat to drive positive change in their communities.
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