Amb. Nekesa implores religious leaders to preach gospel of wealth creation

Monday 21st October 2024

The NRM National Treasurer, Amb. Barbara Nekesa has implored religious leaders to incorporate the gospel of wealth creation among believers during their sermons to fight poverty. Amb. Nekesa said today at the NRM secretariat as she hosted a delegation of religious leaders from Busia district who had paid her a courtesy visit.

“The fight against poverty cannot be won without you the religious leaders. So as you preach the sermons about God, please also tell our people to engage in production for both food and money so as to live happily. Because our people trust you so much,” Hon. Nekesa said.

“I request you as church leaders to advise our people to embrace government programmes like the Parish Development Model (PDM), Emyooga, skilling hubs among others.” she added.

According to Nekesa, an empowered and wealthy population greatly contributes to the country’s development because the people are able to pay taxes which finance several infrastructural public projects like the roads, schools, and hospital facilities among others.

“The mindset of working for the stomach alone should quickly change to focus both on food and money, Nekesa reiterated.

Nekesa discouraged the leaders from giving out handouts to the population saying, individuals alone don’t have the capacity to create wealth. “With government support, our people should work together through SACCOs and Associations for the common good of themselves,” she said.

Ms Doreen Nafuna, the Busia district Assistant RDC who led the delegation said they visited Amb. Nekesa to seek advice and draw strategy on how the religious organizations can cooperate with the government to improve the lives of the people and the churches.

“When religious leaders speak, our people keenly listen. They are actors of mindset change and this is really important for us in the fight against poverty,” Ms Nafuna said.

Bishop Lawrence Lumu commended the works of the NRM government especially protecting the rights of freedom to worship and providing relative peace and stability.

Bishop Lumu said, “As a church we started some projects because we have land. And with more assistance, in five years we can be very far in terms of development such as rearing pigs, chicken because the market for these products is readily available.”