BUSOGA, UGANDA: The Busoga Consortium for Development (BCD), a committee which was formed to steer up development in the sub-region partnered with religious leaders for a prayer week aimed at beseeching God to revive unity, reconciliation and development in Busoga subregion.
The prayer week which started on Monday July 25 and ended on Sunday July 31 was characterized by praying from different places basing on the religions. However, joint prayers which were organised at Iganga municipal council primary school in Iganga town on Sunday sealed the prayer week.
The first lady who doubles as the Minister of education and sports, Hon Janet Kataha Museveni, in her message read by prime minister Robinah Nabanja, urged leaders in Busoga to join hands and fight early pregnancies, early marriages, school dropouts and child labour in Busoga.
She said that there is also need to have parental and personal involvement in moral and spiritual upbringing of children.
“The Busoga region currently has the highest number of children in employment aged between 6 to 13 years leading to among other things, low enrolment and high dropout rates experienced at both primary and secondary levels. Education of the girl child in this region was severely affected by increased incidences of teenage pregnancies and early marriages,”
“I call upon all the leaders gathered here to join government in education plus campaign introduced to curb school dropout rates by among other things promoting positive parenting. In this age of internet, media and a multitude of foreign cultures, I call upon the people to promote parental and personal involvement in moral and spiritual upbringing of our children,” Reads part of First lady’s speech presented by Rt Hon Nabanja.
The Kyabazinga of Busoga, His royal highness Wilberforce Gabula Nadiope iv beseeched God to forgive people in Busoga after realizing their shortfalls and deciding to seek God’s face.
The Kyabazinga’s prayer message was delivered by the kingdom’s second deputy premier Osman Noor Ahmed.
“Our heavenly father I ask you to forgive my people as your word says in 2 chronicles 7:14 that if my people who are called by my name will humble themselves and pray and seek my face and turn from their wicked ways, then will I hear from heaven and will forgive their sins and will heal their land. Sometimes we go contrary to your teaching and I therefore humbly ask you Lord for a fresh visitation upon my land and my people of Busoga,” Reads part of the Kyabazinga prayer.
The Bishop of central Busoga diocese, Rt Rev Patrick Wakula preached from the book of Ephesians 4:25-29, where he urged people from Busoga to always forgive and do good to one another.
He also advised leaders to turn away from their wicked ways and start doing good to everyone.
“Let everyone say what is true to his neighbour for we are parts one of another. Be angry without doing wrong, let not the sun go down on your wrath. And do not give way to the Evil One.
Let him who was a thief be so no longer, but let him do good work with his hands, so that he may have something to give to him who is in need. Let no evil talk come out of your mouth, but only what is good for giving necessary teaching, and for grace to those who give ear,” Said Bishop Wakula while quoting directly from the bible.
However, Busoga regional kadhi Sheikh Dr Muhammad Hussein Bowa humbly pleaded with Allah to have mercy on the region and keep all leaders and people in unity. Sheikh Bowa says that the right angle for developing Busoga is through unity and reconciliation.
The third deputy prime minister of Uganda and minister for East African affairs Rt Hon Rebecca Alitwala Kadaga says that thing like corruption, bribery, disunity and hatred have caused Busoga and Uganda to lag behind in issues of development. She however called upon God for mercy and forgiveness.
“I come with this prayer before you God seeking for forgiveness for the corruption, bribery in Busoga, fighting one another and hatred which has caused disunity amongst us plus selfishness and others which have caused our region and country to remain undeveloped,” Rt Hon Kadaga prayed.
The minister for general duties in the office of the prime minister, Rt Hon Justin Lumumba Kasule said that God has blessed ‘girls’ of Busoga to serve in different offices but the disunity amongst themselves has been hindering development of the subregion. Lumumba committed herself on behalf of others to be mothers who will lead the development agenda of Busoga.
“We have had the privilege some of us most especially the girls of Busoga to serve in different places, different offices but we have had no unity as girls of Busoga and yet God gave us the opportunity to lead Busoga politically. We’re here to say as girls, Lord forgive us and we commit ourselves to change and be mothers,” Rt Hon Lumumba asked God.
Minister for presidency, Hon Babirye Milly Babalanda publicly apologized on behalf of her family in case she annoyed anyone knowingly or unknowingly. Babalanda also committed herself before God by forgiving whoever wronged her either knowingly or unknowingly.
“I personally Babirye Milly Babalanda and my family led by Mr Babalanda and our children in our family, we ask for forgiveness from whoever we wronged knowingly or unknowingly. On behalf of my family, I apologize and say that forgive me as I have forgiven whoever annoyed me,” Hon Minister Babalanda apologized.
Meanwhile, the chairperson organising committee for the prayer week who doubles as Busoga Kingdom first deputy premier Prof Dr Muhammad Lubega Kisambira commended the people of Busoga especially the leaders for honouring their invitation to the memorable day in the region.
Dr Lubega prayed to Allah that He accepts and restore Busoga through the week of prayers and fasting.
“As a committee, we took the responsibility to reach you in your respective capacities and you accept to come for the good of Busoga and Busoga Kingdom. Honestly this initiative just delayed but everything has it’s own time, maybe this is the right time. Sheikhs, Pastors, Bishops and Reverends have prayed and we raised our hands confirming that we have done it wholeheartedly and we pray that Allah accept and restore Busoga. Bishop inquired if there will be a time to apologize to one another, we expect that such time will come inshallah,” Dr Lubega said.
The joint prayers attracted among others, Religious leaders from almost all religions in Busoga, LC 5 chairpersons in Busoga, Hon members of parliament from Busoga, opposition leaders led by Hon Salaam Musumba of Forum for Democratic Change (FDC).
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