President rallies Christians to eliminate poverty as Shs271m is raised for Shs6b mothers complex

Mbarara – President Yoweri Museveni has urged Christians to come up with ways of eradicating poverty from their families and their churches.

This was addressed to the Christians of Ankole diocese over the weekend during a fundraising ceremony of the Family Mothers Complex in Ruharo.

The President was represented by the State Minister for Trade, Industry and Cooperatives, David Bahati commended the leadership of the diocese for spearheading development and poverty eradication projects.

 The president through his written speech read by the minister said that the government recognises the significant contribution of the Church of Uganda in extending social services to the people of Uganda especially in the health and education sectors, adding that the church has continued to partner with government in lifting people’s standards of living through construction of schools, hospitals among other amenities.

The president further called upon leaders to join hands with government in wealth creation campaigns to eliminate poverty. He added that poverty in Uganda arises from the fact that 39% of the households are still engaged in subsistence farming.

He also noted that in addition to food, there are other human wants required to live a happy and long life, like having monitory value that they can only obtain through the medium of money.

According to Museveni, its no longer sustainable for one to live outside the money economy and expect to attain a happy life .

“There are four sectors where wealth and jobs can be created, these include commercial, agriculture, industries services and ICT. Therefore I urge leaders to help our people to select profitable enterprises in any of these sectors” the president said.

“We have also rolled out the massive program of Parish Development Model which is aimed at increasing productivity and profitability of agriculture output, so far the Shs25m plus the Shs17m have already been put on the accounts of the selected parishes. Please go for this money and use it to develop yourselves,” he added.

The president contributed Shs50m towards the construction of the complex, but he had earlier donated about 200m for the same cause.

According to Jeninah Mwesigye, the Mothers’ Union President Ankole Diocese, they initiated the program of putting up a project that will generate some income to the mothers through the idea of constructing a family mothers complex that is going to cost about Shs6.4b.

“We are aiming at raising Shs6.4b  for the whole construction of our building, and so far for the work that has been completed we have finished the ground floor that has cost us about Shs1.4b. This building will comprise of a counselling center, skills training center for the youth, children, men and women. And we are going to have some restaurants, shops, accommodations and offices for different organisations,” Mwesigye said.

Sheldon Mwesigwa, the Bishop of Ankole diocese said that government has ably supported developmental projects within the diocese.

“We are grateful of the Ruharo hill tarmac road. But the president wrote to UNRA executive director directing her to construct some tarmac roads around the diocese but there were some excuses from the office of the UNRA boss that there was inadequate funds. Therefore I call upon the ministers who are here to  go and remind the president about this issue. I wish to make  a request of your good offices to follow up the remaining balance of the Ankole diocese Ranch scheme which was taken over by government in 1992 and valuation of land done duly because all other church institutions which needed money from government were paid apart from us,” Bishop Mwesigwa said.

Robert Rukaari, the Member of Parliament for Mbarara city North said that it’s very vital to empower the women or mothers as a way of empowering  families and the communities. He appealed to the leaders to ensure that they continue supporting women or mothers once they have any project that intends to help communities.

About Shs271m was collected during the fundraising function. MP Rukaari himself contributed about Shs10m towards the project.

Other leaders that included, Minister Bright Rwamirama, MP Bazir Bataringaya of Kashari North, MP Margret Rwebyambu of Mbarara district, MP Rita Bwahika of Mbarara city turned up, and also contributed money towards the construction of mothers complex.