Sounds of popular Christian hymn “What a Friend We Have in Jesus” penetrated through the National Leadership Institute in Kyankwanzi on Sunday where President Yoweri kaguta Museveni and several NRM Mps gathered for their annual retreat.
The service was led by the Bishop of Mityana Diocese, Dr Steven Kaziimba who urged the leaders to “replace human pride with pride for God”.
In his remarks, President Museveni said it is always good to listen to the word of God because “without belief in Him, things can be difficult.”
“The relationship therein should not be about you and the priest but between oneself and God,” he said.
Museveni described religious leaders as “simply facilitators” noting that in leadership, “one must remain rooted in God.
A video of President Museveni leading the NRM parliamentary caucus in hymn received varying reactions from Christians on social media, with critics questioning “must you read such a simple hymn on paper, after decades of singing?”
“Most people go to church but the question remains “are you a doer of the word” meaning do you do what the Bible says?” One social media user wondered.
Another said, “God should be on top in everything a human being does or says. I really like the way President Museveni inter-mingles state affairs with God’s word. Rarely do I ever see him do anything without the word of God peeping up. This is a great sense that every leader must possess.”
Story behind the hymn: ‘What a Friend we Have in Jesus’
The great hymn, “What a Friend We Have in Jesus” depicts a rich understanding of God through times of loss and loneliness. The hymn’s lyricist was a native of Dublin, Ireland, a man named Joseph Scriven (1820-1886).
Meanwhile, local media sources revealed on Monday that the Caucus in Kyankwanzi District unanimously endorsed the “Chobe resolution by the party’s central executive committee (CEC) to have President Museveni continue leading the party and the State in 2021 and beyond.”
