Gulu City, Uganda: The National Resistance Movement (NRM) Secretary General, Rt. Hon. Richard Todwong has urged religious leaders in the Acholi sub-region to balance faith with productivity by steering their congregations toward wealth creation and socio-economic transformation.
Speaking during a high-level Operation Wealth Creation (OWC) engagement in Gulu, Todwong cautioned clerics against over-engaging believers in church activities throughout the week, warning that such practices undermine productivity and perpetuate poverty.
“The people you lead in churches and mosques are the same people we serve as citizens. They need health, education, security, and above all, the ability to earn an income,” Todwong said, urging clerics to “preach the gospel of wealth alongside spiritual salvation.”
He emphasized that socio-economic transformation is a shared responsibility requiring cooperation between political, cultural, religious, and government institutions.
Kenneth Oketa, the OWC Information Management Centre (IMC) team leader, underlined the strategic role of clerics in advancing government programs.
“When a religious leader speaks, the people listen. If you carry messages of socio-economic transformation, the flock will follow. This is how we spread wealth and bring more Ugandans into the money economy,” Oketa remarked.
The State Minister for Northern Uganda, Dr. Kenneth Omona, also echoed the call, urging clerics to form SACCOs within their congregations to set a practical example. “Government can provide resources and structures, but it is leaders like you who can translate vision into reality at the grassroots,” Dr. Omona said, cautioning the youth to shun alcoholism and idleness.
Pastor Arthur Owor, a Pentecostal leader, welcomed the government’s outreach, saying faith-based institutions are ready to collaborate on wealth creation. “We have developed programs to empower believers economically. Contrary to stereotypes, Pentecostal churches are already promoting transformation alongside spiritual growth,” Pastor Owor explained.
During the meeting, OWC presented the Acholi Investment Profile, highlighting opportunities in agriculture, energy, and infrastructure. With fertile land, improved roads, and rising investor interest, Acholi is being positioned as a frontier for investment and transformation.
The dialogue closed with consensus that while prayer remains essential, it must be complemented with hard work, innovation, and investment if Acholi—and Uganda at large—is to break the cycle of poverty.
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