President Museveni has called on Christians to emulate the teachings of Jesus Christ by embracing hard work and unity as key pillars for both spiritual and material prosperity.
Speaking during celebrations marking 100 years of St. Mary’s Cathedral Lubaga in Kampala, the President urged believers to draw inspiration from the biblical parable of the talents and St. Paul’s message to the Thessalonians on diligence and self-reliance.
“I call upon you all to concentrate more on the parable of talents and the message of St. Paul; whoever does not work, will not eat,” President Museveni said. “My challenge to you, therefore, is to work so you get out of poverty, that you may support the Church, the State, and your families.”
The event, held at Lubaga Hill, attracted over 5,000 worshippers and was preceded by a Holy Mass led by Kampala Archbishop Paul Ssemogerere. Among the dignitaries in attendance were Prime Minister Robinah Nabbanja, Mengo Kingdom premier, Charles Peter Mayiga, the Apostolic Nuncio Archbishop Augustine Kasujja, and bishops from across the Kampala Archdiocese.
President Museveni also invoked the parable of the Good Samaritan to call for unity among Ugandans, noting that the National Resistance Movement (NRM) prioritizes shared interests over identity politics.
“In the NRM, we do not care about who you are, but what you have done,” the President said. “Just like the Bible says, let your light shine before men, that they may see your works and glorify the Father who is in heaven. We therefore need to be real Christians guided by this parable.”
In his remarks, Archbishop Ssemogerere thanked President Museveni for his continued collaboration with the Church in key sectors such as education and health.
“Many of our schools and hospitals continue to save lives and serve our people because of the environment your government provides,” the Archbishop said. “We thank you for honouring this occasion and recognising the role of the Church.”
He also called for peace as the nation prepares for elections, urging young people to focus their energy on building the country rather than dividing it. The Archbishop further appealed to government to take firm action against land grabbing, which he said remains a major challenge affecting communities.
The Lubaga Cathedral, constructed in 1925 through community effort, stands as one of Uganda’s most iconic religious landmarks. Built with over 2.5 million locally made bricks, the Cathedral sits on land donated by Kabaka Mwanga II to the Catholic Missionaries and has served as a symbol of faith, resilience, and national heritage for a century.
