By Aaron Sseruyigo
KAMPALA – President Museveni has said Christians must refrain from “the escapist attitude of saying that they are mere visitors on earth.”
Museveni, who joined multitudes at All Saints Cathedral, Nakasero for a fundraising service on Sunday explained that believers must subdue nature and use it for both God’s and man’s good.
The President asserted that teachings that label Christians as earthly visitors push them away from their responsibilities of working and developing the country.
He further said that Christians must love without selfishness and refrain from doing evil as the commandment was given to them by Jesus.
“Besides feeding the hungry, preaching and healing the sick, Jesus was also a carpenter. Every Christian must engage in an economic activity, especially in commercial agriculture, the services sector or ICT,” Mr Museveni explained.
“To build this church, it would be easy if all the Christians were following what Jesus did. If all Christians worked, this place would be built. You Christians must wake up those who are sleeping.
“Every learned Christian must carry out commercial agriculture, or be in services, embrace ICT and utilize infrastructure. Ask yourself, how are you, as a Christian contributing to any of the four?” he asked.
He later inspected the new 5,000 seater church building under construction and congratulated the parishioners on the decision to build a new house for the Lord.
The President said government will make a Shs500 million contribution towards this project in the Nakasero suburb of Kampala. The current cathedral seats about 700 people.
On his part, Church of Uganda Archbishop, the Most Rev. Stanley Ntagali thanked the President for his support, partnership and friendship to the Church of Uganda. He expressed gratitude for the President’s previous contribution of Shs. 50 million towards phase 1 of the Cathedral’s building project.
Reports show that plans for the current expansion commenced in 2004, under the stewardship of the then Archbishop Livingstone Nkoyoyo, with acquisition of Plots 2, 4 and 6 on Lugard Road.
Rev. Stanley Ntagali said that they hope to relocate to the new church building by Christmas this year. He informed the congregation that the new building would be the Metropolitan Church for the whole of Kampala Diocese.
“When finished, the new All Saints’ Cathedral will be such an iconic sanctuary for generations, to the glory of our almighty God,” according to the communications officer Ivan Naijuka.
