Prayers can’t bring wealth, Museveni tells pastors 

Persistent preaching of the gospel to believers languishing in poverty will not change their fortunes,  President Yoweri Museveni has said.

Museveni said instead, the clergy should join the government’s efforts to spread the wealth creation message to Ugandans. He advised that instead, they should at least use part of the sermons to sensitise people on how to fight poverty through engaging in wealth creation activities such as commercial agriculture, manufacturing, services, and ICT.

The President made the remarks in his message delivered by the special presidential assistant on press and mobilization, also deputy spokesperson, Faruk Kirunda, during a 2025 mega crusade of the Universal Apostles Fellowship Church of Righteousness (UAFCR), held at Saza Grounds in Kayunga district.

The church has several branches around the world, and in Uganda, it’s headed by Prophet Daudi Isanga.

“Please spread the National Resistance Movement (NRM) government’s wealth creation message. You should use the Church to help our people to fight poverty,” Museveni said while commending Isanga for having started preaching the NRM wealth creation message among the believers a long time ago.

He tasked other religious leaders to take a leaf from Isanga. He pledged to donate a tractor to believers to increase productivity in their commercial agriculture enterprises. He added that the NRM government believes in the politics of interest, which focuses on the welfare or well-being of the general public.

The President also disclosed that the country has many places of worship due to the NRM’s rights policies and laws, which, among others, emphasize freedom of worship. He, however, urged believers to use the freedom to promote peace and unity in the country.

“Our government doesn’t discriminate against any Ugandan based on their tribe, religion, or political affiliation. This is so because of the right policies and principles. That’s why you are able to freely worship whatever and whenever you want as long as you don’t break the law. Between 1977-1978, Amin outlawed freedom of worship because he was a coward who never wanted to be criticized,” Museveni said.

For his part, Isanga decried the high crime rate in Kayunga district such as witchcraft, land theft, human sacrifice, among others. He said such criminality tainted the image of Kayunga and that the district needed revival as soon as possible.

“You should return to God so that you revive the image of this district,” he said.

He praised Museveni for being a just and selfless leader whose visionary leadership has steered Uganda’s development.

“Unlike the past leaders, President Museveni is one of a kind. He is a kind of leader who is abused, criticized and does nothing to those who castigate him. He has all the qualities of a good leader.”

The minister of State for Finance, Planning and Economic Development also the member of parliament for Ntenjeru North, Amos Lugoloobi concurred with Isanga on the issue of criminality in Kayunga, reiterating that the district needs revival.

The crusade was also attended by the minister of state for Bunyoro Affairs, Jenipher Namuyangu, commissioner in-charge of Kampala Metropolitan Area, RDC Secretariat, Frederick Mbagadhi Nkayi, Kayunga RDC, Mariam Seguya, among other leaders.