President Yoweri Museveni has highly commended the Uganda Inter-Religious Council (IRCU) for fostering oneness among the different faiths in the country. 

The President made the remarks yesterday at State House, Entebbe during the Annual National Thanksgiving Service that was organized by the Inter-Religious Council of Uganda to thank God and offer prayers for continued peace in the country and for completing the year 2019.

 “When NRM came from the bush, we made local resistance councils in different areas. Here in State House, we have a local resistance of Christians headed by Maama Janet. I suggested that we involve the leaders in organizing this service because it is part of their ‘lubimbi.’ I am glad that they have linked up. When I see different religions coming together, I thank God for that,” he said.

The Inter-Religious Council of Uganda is an indigenous national faith-based organization that strives to promote efforts for unity by religious institutions in the country to jointly address issues of common concern.

Its membership includes the Muslim, Catholic, Anglican, Orthodox, Adventist, Born Again, Pentecostal and Evangelical faiths in Uganda.

President Museveni who addressed issues of development, stressed that Ugandans should embrace all efforts to ensure that we gain command and dominion over nature as ordained by God. He noted that the challenge facing Africa is lagging behind in development despite the abundant riches that the continent has. He added that in the case of Uganda, NRM has moved to address underdevelopment.

“NRM has really fought underdevelopment. We decided that everybody must get educated. Yes, there is unemployment now but at least the youths are educated. This is half way the struggle for us. To be educated and unemployed is better than being uneducated and unemployed,” he explained.

He congratulated Ugandans who had woken up to participate in agriculture, industry and ICT sectors noting that although the participation was still limited, the results so far were promising.

The 1st Lady and Minister of Education and Sports, Janet Museveni, who led the congregation in a family prayer, thanked God for the nation and asked the Almighty to create a new awareness of His presence in our lives. She also prayed for people to see the light of Christ in this Christmas season.

In a sermon, outgoing Church of Uganda Archbishop, the Most Rev. Stanley Ntagali, prayed to God to cleanse Uganda from corruption. He appealed to the media to be agents of development and seek to change people’s lives.

ENDS