📸 Museveni rallies Ugandans to multiply their talents and build Uganda

STATE HOUSE - President Yoweri Kaguta Museveni has called on Ugandans to work hard, multiply their God-given talents and actively participate in building the country, saying the responsibility to develop Uganda is consistent with Biblical teachings.

He made the remarks during the 28th Uganda National Prayer Breakfast at State House Entebbe on Thursday, held under the theme: “Wake Up, Work Hard, Build Uganda.”

The annual event, organised by Parliament, was held on the eve of Uganda's 64th Independence anniversary. 

Museveni was the chief guest while Speaker of Parliament Jacob Markson Oboth was the chief host.

The President also recalled his time as President of the Scripture Union in the 1960s, saying he challenged interpretations of Christianity that appeared to glorify poverty or discourage people from working to improve their lives. (All Photos by Miriam Namutebi)

The First Lady thanked God for sustaining the country over the years, quoting Psalm 111, which speaks of the greatness of God's works and the enduring nature of His righteousness.

“First of all, I congratulate Ugandans on this Independence Day which we are going to celebrate tomorrow [Friday]. Secondly, I want to thank God for preserving the life of Maama [First Lady Janet Museveni] and ensuring her steady recovery. I praise God for that mercy,” said the President.

He commended Parliament for sustaining the National Prayer Breakfast tradition and also traced the origins of the prayer breakfast to the United States, where Christian leaders invited the NRM leadership during the early years of government.

He said he was informed that the tradition emerged during periods of conflict when political leaders who were not communicating with each other used prayer as a means of fostering dialogue and unity.

He said the idea resonated with his own experience as a student leader in the 1960s, when he opposed politics based on tribe and religion.

“In Uganda at that time, politics had been sectarian according to tribes and religions, pretending to work for God when in fact they were fighting one another on behalf of God. I was president of the students union but I walked out because they were wrong.

“I told them that when God created man, He created him in His own image. So, when you hate anybody because of a tribe or religion, you are hating a product of God.”

The President also recalled his time as President of the Scripture Union in the 1960s, saying he challenged interpretations of Christianity that appeared to glorify poverty or discourage people from working to improve their lives.

He cited the Biblical parable of the talents, in which a master rewards a servant who multiplied what had been entrusted to him.

“I told them about the parable of the talents. The master rewarded the one who had multiplied the talents and punished the one who had not. I said I cannot sit on my talents; I must multiply them."

He further recalled a disagreement in 1965 at Mwiri with people who argued that Christians should simply pray and leave everything else to God.

According to him, such a position ignored the Biblical teaching that God gave human beings responsibility over creation. He also cited the Biblical account of Jesus overturning tables used by traders in the temple as an example of taking action when necessary.

Museveni said the National Prayer Breakfast is, therefore, consistent with the principle of loving God wholeheartedly while also loving one's neighbour.

On his part, Speaker of Parliament Oboth thanked God for the occasion and commended President Museveni for continuing to open State House to the National Prayer Breakfast.

First Lady's testimony

The closing prayer was led by the First Lady, Janet Kataaha Museveni, who offered a wide-ranging testimony of thanksgiving for the nation, the country's achievements and her own recovery from illness.

She thanked God for sustaining the country over the years, quoting Psalm 111, which speaks of the greatness of God's works and the enduring nature of His righteousness.

“We are gathered here today on the eve of our 64th Independence celebration to give thanks to You, our God, for all of Your mercies towards us. It is Your guiding hand that has strengthened, guided and upheld us all these many years."

Mrs Museveni thanked God for what she described as a peaceful electoral process earlier in the year, the swearing-in of President Museveni for another term, and the inauguration of Cabinet and Parliament with renewed commitments to service delivery, transparency and integrity.

She also thanked God for Uganda's response to the Ebola outbreak in the region, saying the country was able to contain the threat while keeping schools open and maintaining normal life.

She commended Uganda's health workers for their dedication and for providing medical support to neighbouring countries.

“We thank You for building our internal capacity as a nation so that we are now able to be of help and support to our neighbours."

On the oil and gas sector, the First Lady thanked God for what she described as the inauguration of Uganda's crude oil project, named Pearl Sweet, in preparation for first production.

“This was a vision You put in the heart of our President many decades ago and now finally we are beginning to see the fulfilment of that dream."

She prayed that Uganda's natural resources would become a blessing to the country and contribute to economic growth.

She also prayed for adequate but non-destructive rainfall, particularly for farming communities, while calling for greater investment in irrigation to reduce the country's dependence on rainfall.

To the people of Tooro, Mrs Museveni thanked God for the life and legacy of the late King Oyo Nyimba Kabamba Iguru Rukidi IV, and prayed for comfort for his family and the people of the kingdom.

On her recovery, she pointed to God's mercy and the prayers of Ugandans.

“Finally, Lord, on my own behalf and on behalf of my family, I give You all the praise and glory for saving my life and giving me this opportunity to stand in the congregation of Your people and testify of Your goodness, mercies and healing power."

“I thank You that in my hour of need, the families and children of Uganda also prayed for me and carried me in their hearts. This prayer breakfast is even more poignant for me and my family because we know that we have received great mercy and grace this year,” she said.

The First Lady also prayed for divine wisdom and guidance for President Museveni and called for servant leadership among government officials.

She further prayed for national unity, invoking the Biblical account in Exodus 33 in which Moses asks for God's presence to accompany the people.

Speaker commends prayer tradition

On his part, Speaker of Parliament Oboth thanked God for the occasion and commended President Museveni for continuing to open State House to the National Prayer Breakfast.

“Thank you, Your Excellency, for opening the doors of the State House to host these prayers for all these years. We are grateful for that example in leadership. Maama Janet, we thank you for your ministry of prayer and for becoming a pillar at a time when many of us are demanded by the crowds,” Speaker Oboth said.

“Wake Up, Work Hard and Build Uganda,” was timely, particularly as the country continues to pursue industrialisation, infrastructure development, peace and security.

The keynote address was delivered by Eduard Heger, former Prime Minister of the Slovak Republic.

The breakfast also featured prayers for different aspects of national and international life.

Mary Kamili Kuteesa led prayers for families, while Wilfred Babanga, MP for Terego East, prayed for the economy. Alfred Edakasi, MP for Kaberamaido, led prayers for the nation, while Government Chief Whip Jane Ruth Aceng prayed for the region.

Naome Kabasharira, MP for Rushenyi, led prayers for peace in the world.

Readings from Proverbs 20 and Matthew 25 were led by Santa Alum and Tom Bright Amooti, respectively.

A testimony was also shared by Dr Canon Gaster Lule, founder of Ntake Bakery, which was established in 1978.