President Museveni has urged Ugandans to work hard, develop their God-given talents and take an active role in national development, saying the responsibility to build the country is consistent with biblical teachings.
The President made the remarks during the 28th Uganda National Prayer Breakfast held at State House Entebbe under the theme, “Wake Up, Work Hard, Build Uganda.”
The event took place ahead of Uganda’s 64th Independence anniversary and was organised by Parliament.
Museveni attended as the chief guest, while Speaker of Parliament Jacob Markson Oboth Oboth hosted the gathering.
In his address, the President congratulated Ugandans ahead of Independence Day and thanked God for preserving the life of First Lady Janet Kataaha Museveni and supporting her recovery from illness.
He also commended Parliament for sustaining the National Prayer Breakfast, tracing its origins to the United States, where, he said, Christian leaders invited the National Resistance Movement (NRM) leadership to participate in the tradition during the early years of its government.
According to Museveni, the initiative was rooted in efforts to promote dialogue and unity among political leaders who had been divided by conflict.
The President reflected on his experience as a student leader in the 1960s, when he opposed political divisions based on tribe and religion.
He said he had disagreed with fellow students whose politics, in his view, used religion to justify hostility towards others.
Museveni argued that discrimination based on tribal or religious identity contradicts the belief that all human beings are created in God’s image.
He also recalled his time as president of the Scripture Union, during which he challenged interpretations of Christianity that appeared to discourage hard work or portray poverty as a virtue.
Citing the biblical parable of the talents in Matthew 25, the President said the story demonstrated the importance of using and multiplying the abilities entrusted to individuals.
“I cannot sit on my talents; I must multiply them,” Museveni said, recalling his arguments with fellow students over the relationship between faith, work and personal responsibility.
He further referred to a disagreement at Mwiri in 1965, when he challenged the view that Christians should simply pray and leave everything else to God.
The President said the biblical account of God giving humanity responsibility over creation supports the need for people to take action to improve their circumstances. He also cited Jesus’ actions in the temple as an example of confronting situations that require intervention.
Museveni said the National Prayer Breakfast reflected the biblical principles of loving God and one’s neighbour, while encouraging citizens to contribute to the country’s development.
First Lady Janet Kataaha Museveni led the closing prayer, offering thanksgiving for Uganda, the country’s achievements and her recovery from illness.
Drawing from Psalm 111, she thanked God for what she described as His continued guidance and protection of the country over the years.
She also expressed gratitude for the electoral process earlier in the year, the swearing-in of President Museveni for another term, and the inauguration of Cabinet and Parliament, noting the importance of commitments to service delivery, transparency and integrity.
The First Lady commended Uganda’s response to the Ebola outbreak in the region, saying the country had managed the threat while keeping schools open and maintaining normal activities. She also praised health workers for their dedication and for extending medical support to neighbouring countries.
“We thank You for building our internal capacity as a nation so that we are now able to be of help and support to our neighbours,” she said.
On the oil and gas sector, Janet Museveni expressed gratitude for progress towards Uganda’s first oil production. She referred to the country’s crude oil project as Pearl Sweet and described the development as the fulfilment of a long-standing vision.
She prayed that the country’s natural resources would benefit Ugandans and contribute to economic growth.
The First Lady also called for increased investment in irrigation to reduce dependence on rainfall, particularly among farming communities. She asked for adequate rainfall while cautioning against destructive weather conditions.
“Help us to take more strides in the area of irrigation because You have blessed us with many water bodies across the nation and we need to use this water resource responsibly and not only rely on the rainfall,” she prayed.
Janet Museveni also paid tribute to the late King Oyo Nyimba Kabamba Iguru Rukidi IV of Tooro, praying for comfort and strength for his family and the people of the kingdom.
She expressed gratitude for the support extended to the kingdom and the wider country during the period of mourning.
In a personal testimony, the First Lady attributed her recovery to God’s mercy and the prayers of Ugandans.
She thanked families and children across the country who had prayed for her during her illness, saying their support had made the prayer breakfast particularly meaningful to her and her family.
The First Lady also prayed for wisdom and guidance for President Museveni, urging government officials to embrace servant leadership. She called for national unity, drawing on the biblical account in Exodus 33, in which Moses asks for God’s presence to accompany the people.
Speaker of Parliament Jacob Markson Oboth Oboth thanked God for the gathering and commended President Museveni for continuing to host the annual prayers at State House Entebbe.
He also recognised the First Lady’s contribution to the prayer tradition.
Oboth said the theme, “Wake Up, Work Hard and Build Uganda,” was relevant as the country pursued industrialisation, infrastructure development, peace and security.
The keynote address was delivered by Eduard Heger, former Prime Minister of the Slovak Republic.
The breakfast included prayers for families, the economy, the nation, the region and international peace.
Mary Kamili Kuteesa led prayers for families, while Wilfred Babanga, the Member of Parliament for Terego East, prayed for the economy.
Alfred Edakasi, MP for Kaberamaido, led prayers for the nation, while Government Chief Whip Jane Ruth Aceng prayed for the region.
Naome Kabasharira, MP for Rushenyi, led prayers for peace around the world.
Readings from Proverbs 20 and Matthew 25 were delivered by Santa Alum and Tom Bright Amooti, respectively.
The event also featured a testimony from Dr Canon Gaster Lule, founder of Ntake Bakery, which was established in 1978.
The National Prayer Breakfast brought together political leaders and other participants to reflect on faith, national unity and the responsibility of citizens and leaders to contribute to Uganda’s development.
