President Yoweri Museveni has warned newspapers against publishing false information aimed at causing confusion.
“I want really to warn some of these newspapers that we are here to build our country. As Christians, we work for peace not for discord. They should not make it a business to spread discord,” said the President.
President Museveni made the remarks this afternoon at Hotel Africana in Kampala, where he was a guest of honour at a conference organised by the Wekembe Group.
The President’s warning to the media followed remarks by Kampala Archdiocese Archbishop, Cyprian Lwanga, that some newspapers were publishing unresearched information.
Wekembe Group was founded by Archbishop Cyprian Lwanga in 1995 to help Christians eradicate poverty from their homes.
The initiative has so far supported 12,800 beneficiaries organised in 526 community based associations in eight districts of Butambala, Kampala, Luweero, Mpigi, Mukono, Nakaseke, Buikwe and Wakiso.
Mr Museveni also appreciated the approach adopted by the church through helping wananchi to create wealth, likening it to government’s Operation Wealth Creation programme that seeks to support farmers to better their incomes.
The President said he would partner with the church and encourage OWC to learn from the former’s approach where beneficiaries are only supported after intensive training.
The government, said the President, would give Wekembe Group Shs500 million in the next financial year to prop its activities.
About climate change, President Museveni told the gathering that a campaign on irrigation has started and the government will involve the church by providing irrigation equipment.
“Uganda should not be a poor country at all. We have two rain seasons and with irrigation, we shall have more planting seasons,” he noted.
Archbishop Lwanga said Wekembe Group is not limited to Catholics, adding that beneficiaries are drawn from all faiths.
He urged Ugandans to promote peace in their communities, families, neighbours as well as in the country and above all with God.
Earlier some members of Wekembe Association, including Joseph Lwevuze, a prominent farmer from Kasana Luweero diocese and Rose Namugwe from Lugazi, gave moving testimonies of how the association has changed their lives.
The one-day conference was also attended by a delegation from the Diocese of Stuttgart in Germany, led by Herman Schutten.
Do you have a story in your community or an opinion to share with us: Email us at editorial@watchdoguganda.com