President Museveni has called on religious leaders across the country to actively mobilize their congregations in the struggle for wealth creation as part of Uganda’s wider economic transformation agenda.
The President made the call on Wednesday, September 17, 2025, while meeting a delegation of Born-Again leaders led by Bishop Dr. Moses Odongo, the General Overseer of the National Fellowship of Born-Again Pentecostal Churches in Uganda (NFBPC), at State House, Entebbe.
Addressing the gathering, President Museveni emphasized that economic empowerment and spiritual growth should move hand in hand. He said faith-based leaders are strategically placed to guide Ugandans on practical ways of lifting themselves out of poverty.
“If you have two acres, and you put one acre under cassava for food, you remain with only one acre for money. If you choose the wrong enterprise, you never get out of poverty,” H.E. Museveni explained.
He drew on Uganda’s experience with low-value crops such as cotton, which he said could not sustain families.
“At that time, farmers harvested about 200 kilograms of cotton an acre, selling at 200 shillings. That meant 40,000 shillings a year.
How can a family survive on that? That is why I recommended foods, because foods can actually make a lot of money, even up to 30 million shillings an acre,” President Museveni said.
The President reiterated his long-held view that Uganda’s prosperity lies in the correct use of land and enterprise selection, citing examples of high-value crops like coffee and fruits.
President Museveni likened the principles of the ruling National Resistance Movement (NRM) to those of the Christian faith, saying both stand for non-sectarianism, unity, and reconciliation.
“The NRM is like a church because we came with non-sectarianism, no revenge; these are Jesus’s teachings.
Traditionally, Africans believed in revenge, in blood settlement. But we came with forgiveness and unity. That is why I said if my people are not truly Christians, let me start my own church, combining earthly issues with spiritual transformation. That is how NRM was founded,” President Museveni said.
Bishop Dr. Odongo welcomed the President’s message, pledging that the fellowship of Born-again churches would stand firmly with the government in mobilizing Christians for wealth creation.
“We will continue to help Christians interpret your dream of wealth creation, asking ourselves: how do we get money in our pockets and communities? That is where our churches are located. For instance, we have already started the coffee project as a way of mobilizing our people,” Bishop Odongo said.
He added that through the church’s influence, entire communities, not just Christians, could be reached with programs like coffee planting and other agribusiness ventures.
President Museveni assured the delegation that the government was ready to support such initiatives, including providing free seedlings.
“We can help you to develop seed beds, to give free seedlings to your Christians, and when you mobilize from the church, you can also target the whole community,” the President said, noting that the high cost of seedlings from private suppliers had created barriers for ordinary Ugandans.
“Seedlings were once at 400 shillings, but now I hear they are at 2000 shillings. That is why we must go back to government channels, directly or through institutions, to ensure free seedlings for our people. We can start with coffee, then move to fruits, which I introduced in Soroti,” President Museveni explained.
Bishop Odongo also briefed the President on the fellowship’s plans to establish a permanent headquarters in Kasangati on six acres of land. The facility, he said, would include a training school for pastors with a structured curriculum.
“If you feel God is calling you, come and study. Come and know how to do it like a doctor or a driver; you must study first. We want to set up a place where our leaders can be equipped with knowledge and skills to serve effectively,” Bishop Odongo said, appealing for government support in the project.
He further commended President Museveni and First Lady and Minister of Education and Sports, Maama Janet Kataaha Museveni for preserving religious freedom in Uganda.
“We have had an environment where we worship God freely. From our neighbors, we are highly regarded because of you and your family’s love for God and service to Him. Your efforts for wealth creation are amazing, and we are following that example,” Bishop Odongo said.
The President welcomed Bishop Odongo’s efforts to unite the Balokole across denominations, saying such unity was crucial for both spiritual and socio-economic transformation.
He reiterated that religion should not be divorced from practical efforts to improve livelihoods.