The President of the Republic of Uganda, Yoweri Kaguta Museveni, has advised the Pilgrims to not only focus on spirituality but also work hard and create decent standards of living through wealth creation.

According to President Museveni, man has both spiritual and physical needs, and the former is satisfied by praying, fasting, studying the scriptures, and listening to religious moral instructions, among others, which draws believers closer to God. He, however, said that there are also physical needs that must be satisfied in order to achieve a happy, fulfilling, and productive life on earth.

“The physical needs include food, water, shelter, medicine, schools, clothes, transport, and jobs, among others. In a modern economy, you cannot obtain goods and services that are necessary to sustain your life without money,” Museveni said.

President Museveni made the remarks in a speech that was read by Speaker Anita Annet Among, who represented the President at the Anglican Martyrs site in Namugongo on Monday, June 3, 2024.

In his speech to the pilgrims, Museveni said that the first step that must be taken by an individual or household to create a decent life is to eliminate a moneyless or subsistence lifestyle that satisfies only one need, which is food.

“Moneyless living can be eliminated by undertaking a profitable enterprise in one of the four sectors: commercial agriculture, industries, services, and ICT. These are the four sectors where you can create jobs and wealth,” he said.

Additionally, the President said that Christians should follow the example of Jesus Christ, who catered for physical needs by feeding the hungry and earning a living by working hard alongside his father, who was a carpenter.

“Jesus Christ should serve as an example to all religious leaders and their followers. The biblical record shows that besides fasting and prayer, he fed the hungry and earned his bread by working alongside his father Joseph, who was a carpenter,” President Museveni said.

Tackling the history of the Uganda Martyrs, Museveni said that St. Paul and St. Matthew were killed for preaching the gospel of Jesus Christ, revealing that the Uganda Martyrs are part of the church’s long history of martyrdom.

However, Museveni said that the story of the Uganda martyrs is proof that it is impossible to suppress the correct ideas that are anchored on godliness and humanity.

“Some people have tried to fight new and dynamic ideas. However, history has taught us that if the idea is correct and progressive, it will eventually triumph, just like the Christianity that spread worldwide even after the killing of the martyrs by the ancient rulers,” he said.

Speaker Among said that Martyrs’ Day celebrations have come at a time when those who stand for the truth are misunderstood, persecuted, and sanctioned, but they should stick to the truth just like the martyrs who died for their faith in God.