President Yoweri Museveni has today opened the 21st Provincial Assembly of the Church of Uganda with a strong call to leaders of all religious denominations to spearhead the fight against poverty among their followers. The ceremony took place at the Uganda Christian University (UCU) in Mukono.
The President who was also delivering a key note address on “The Mission of the Church and Society,” urged the prelates attending the assembly to explain to Christians to master the law of nature and use that endowment for the benefit of man and for the glory of God.
The 4-day biannual assembly is being attended by over 250 delegates comprising the clergy including bishops and the laity from all dioceses in Uganda to discuss matters of policy and the development of the Church of Uganda, among other issues.
President Museveni, quoting from the Biblical Book of Genesis, where God advised human kind to sub-due and have dominion over all living things on earth, noted that in Africa, people have not mastered ways of taming nature for their benefit leading to underproduction and destruction of people’s lives and property in various areas and sectors.
He, therefore, called on religious leaders to explain and remind Christians of their cardinal duty to establish dominion over nature, citing the prevalent floods and landslides that have caused destruction as people have either failed to tame rain or interfered with the work of God on mountainous areas.
President Museveni, however, commended the church for teaching their followers ways of keeping hygiene, literacy and avoiding alcohol adding that the same could be done on poverty eradication.
The President was happy to note that Uganda Christian University was doing very well, especially in offering courses that are marketable, including the Bachelor of Science Course that will churn out science teachers for Senior Secondary Schools.
President Museveni, on arrival, toured the state of the art library at Uganda Christian University and donated 300 computers to the Information Communication Technology (ICT) Department.
The out-going Archbishop of the Province of the Church of Uganda, the Most Rev. Henry Luke Orombi, who thanked President Museveni for good leadership especially for the peace in the country, disclosed that the church plans to raise up young people for its future leadership. He described the President’s presence at the Church’s Provincial Assembly, for the first time, as historic and thanked him for his support and that of the government to the church.
Archbishop Orombi further commended the government for supporting them with transport explaining that the vehicles donated to church leaders are not personal property of the Bishops but are for the service of the followers in the their respective dioceses.
The opening ceremony was attended, among others by Archbishop elect, Rt. Rev. Stanley Ntagali.
The Minister of State for the Youth and Children Affairs, an alumnus of UCU, Hon. Ronald Kibuule, was present.
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