President Yoweri Kaguta Museveni has called on religious leaders to embrace a holistic ministry that is not only concerned with improving spiritual wellbeing but also expresses equal concern for other human needs of the faithful since believers have other human needs such as food, clothes, shelter, education, and medicine that must be satisfied.

The president’s call was contained in a message delivered by the Lands Minister, Judith Nabakooba, at the inauguration of the Seventh Day Adventist (SDA) East Buganda Field (diocese) and the installation of the Bishop-elect, Pr. Jeremiah Alisengawa, which was presided over by the President of the East and Central African Division (ECD), Pr. Blasious Ruguri, in Mukono on June 4, 2024.

Museveni noted that for the people’s quality of life to improve, they must engage in poverty eradication programs, and that religious leaders should play a vital role in encouraging them to do so.

He remarked that the government has come up with several programs, such as Emyooga, the Parish Development Model (PDM), and the Youth Fund, to fight poverty. He, therefore, urged religious leaders to mobilize the faithful to embrace the programs.

The President further called upon the leaders to encourage the faithful to venture into commercial agriculture alongside other sectors where wealth and jobs can be created, including industries, services, and ICT, to uplift their quality of life.

“Subsistence farming should, therefore, be eliminated because it is a recipe for poverty and backwardness,’ he noted.

In his sermon, Pr. Ruguri lauded President Museveni for his support rendered to the SDA church and expressed their commitment to answering the government’s prayer of equal concern for human needs.

Pr. Ruguri said that the SDA church has contributed to the education sector by setting up different educational institutions, including Bugema University, in addition to extending health services to people by building Ishaka Hospital in western Uganda.

Pr. Dr. Moses Maka, the Seventh Day Adventist Church Archbishop in Uganda, appreciated President Museveni for the freedom of worship he offered to Ugandans ever since he assumed power in 1986.

On behalf of the government, Minister Nabakooba pledged to secure a brand new vehicle for the newly installed bishop of East Buganda Field (EBF) in the next financial year, 2024/2025.

EBF has been curved out of the Kireka-based Central Uganda Conference, meaning that the former is now an independent SDA church entity covering Buikwe, Kayunga, Buvuma Island, and Mukono.