The Orthodox Church has honored President Yoweri Kaguta Museveni for maintaining Peace and Stability in Uganda and the whole region. At a ceremony to witness the consecration and official opening of St. George and Andrew the Apostle Church and a Secondary School in Lwemiyaga, Sembabule District on Sunday May 7th, 2023, the President received an accolade for his good leadership and in recognition of his support to the activities of the Orthodox Church in Uganda. The Vice President Major (rtd) Jessica Alupo Rose Epel delivered the accolade to the President at State House Entebbe on Monday, which was given to him by His Eminence Chariton Ilunga, the Archbishop of Kananga in the Democratic Republic of Congo who represented His Beatitude Pope and Patriarch of Alexandria and All Africa Theodoros II.
President Museveni in a message delivered by H.E Alupo, thanked the faithful of the Orthodox Church in Lwemiyaga, for their generous contributions towards the completion of St. George and Andrew the Apostle Church and a Secondary School, which will extend educational services to the surrounding community. “The NRM government recognises the contribution of the Orthodox Church in extending social services to the people of Uganda, especially in the health and education sectors. The Church has continued to partner with the Government in lifting the population’s standards of living through construction of schools, hospitals etc.,” the President noted, saying it’s a clear indication that the Church cares about the material needs of the believers.
President Museveni emphasized that whereas spiritual nourishment is important, it is not the only aspect of the Christian ministry. He believes a holistic and relevant ministry must express equal concern for the physical needs of the faithful because while here on earth, the believers too, have physical needs like food, clothes, shelter and medicine that must be satisfied. “Therefore, I call upon all religious leaders to join hands with the Government in the wealth creation campaign to eliminate poverty. Poverty, in Uganda, arises from the fact that 39% of the households are still engaged in subsistence farming. They are still working only for food. This is dangerous because in addition to food, there are other human wants required to live a happy and long life,” the President said, adding that human needs have a monetary value, meaning they can only be obtained through the medium of money.
The ceremony was attended by His Eminence Archbishop Leronymos Muzeeyi of Kampala and all Uganda, His Eminence Archbishop Innocentios Byakatonda of Burundi and Rwanda and His Grace Bishop Archimandrite Panaretos of Nyeri and Mount Kenya. Others were Orthodox Bishops in Uganda; His Grace Bishop Sylvester Kisitu (Jinja and Eastern Uganda), His Grace Bishop Nectarios Kabuye (Gulu and Northern Uganda) and other religious leaders. Political leaders included State Minister for Health (General Duties) also Mawogola West Constituency MP Anifa Kawooya, Hon Theodore Ssekikubo who represents Lwemiyaga County, Hon Joseph Ssewungu Gonzaga and Hon Katabaazi Francis Kalungu for Kalungu West and East respectively among others
From the Holy Diocese
