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President Yoweri Kaguta Museveni has revealed that the Born-Again Christians can be good agents of socio-economic transformation due to their discipline and stance against squandering their lives in unconstructive undertakings during the closure of a 4-day Light Up Acholi-land For Jesus Mission 2023 Crusade held at Kaunda Grounds, Gulu City.

At the conclusion of a 4-day Light Up Acholi-land For Jesus Mission 2023 Crusade held at Kaunda Grounds, Gulu City on Saturday, September 2,2023, President Yoweri Kaguta Museveni stated that Born Again Christians can be effective agents of socio-economic transformation because of their discipline and stance against wasting their lives in pointless endeavors.

“I’m glad that you, the new Balokole, seem to have gotten the point and understood the mission of Jesus holistically of Preaching the gospel, Healing the sick, Feeding the hungry and getting involved in Working with your own hands. Even Saint Paul later said anybody who does not work should not even eat,” President Museveni said. 

The President made the remarks during the closure of a 4-day Light Up Acholi-land For Jesus Mission 2023 Crusade held at Kaunda Grounds, Gulu City. The Crusade was hosted by Pastor Patience Rwabwogo- Senior Preacher at Covenant Nations Church.

H.E Museveni explained that when he had just come into power, there was a group of religious leaders who approached him and requested him to ban the Born-Again religion, claiming that believers were liars and pretending to be performing miracles.

 “I told them to leave them. If they are telling lies, God will deal with them. I’m glad that God guided me not to involve myself in that area,” he noted. 

The President was also happy to note that the religious group which they wanted him to ban has now proved to be a formidable force, helping the government to drive its socio-economic transformation agenda. 

“Now with Patience, as they were studying in schools, I used to expose them to our culture, especially wealth creation and she absorbed it very seriously. Even now she is a big farmer with her husband,” President Museveni expounded. 

Museveni further thanked the Lord for identifying a pastor in his family almost 150 years after the coming of the modern church.

“Many people don’t know that my family are cattle keepers. We never participated in the government nor in churches. That’s why I was the first person in my family to work for the government in 1970 when I was recruited as a civil servant. Before, no member of my family was in government because they were always busy with their cows,” Gen. Museveni noted, adding that he never concentrated much on what Pastor Patience was doing until recently when he read her book “Jesus’ Africa”.

“The USA, one of the most developed countries in the world, was built by Born-agains, and I have heard that in South Korea there’s a very active Christian group that is working to transform the country there. So, you should tap and listen to their message.”

President Museveni further underscored the importance of religion in the development of a country like Uganda. 

“People of Acholi and Africa as whole, we need this message of religion (Christianity and Islam) because the traditional society had its own strength, but it had a lot of pessimism which was caused by the problem of what we were facing and low levels of technology but now we have got science which when combined with religion, can help us solve many problems,” he emphasized. 

“I’m glad for your mission. It is a good idea that the government works with you (religious groups) to transform the people.”

On the other hand, President Museveni led a prayer of forgiveness and reconciliation before signing a declaration of prayer for Acholi-land.