President Yoweri Museveni yesterday boosted the fundraising drive for the construction of a Sh3.5billion Mary’s House, a project which is spearheaded by the Busoga Diocese Mothers Union in Jinja district.
The president’s contribution of Shs30m was delivered by Vice President Jessica Alupo during a colorful ceremony to celebrate St. Mary’s Day at the Diocesan headquarters in Bugembe today Sunday.
Last year, Museveni contributed a hooping Sh80m towards the same cause. St. Mary’s House will be a skills development center to impart knowledge and marketable skills for the socio-economic transformation of all.
It will have vocational training facilities, offices, chapel, a canteen, conference halls, guest rooms, a restaurant and others costing Shs3.5billion.
The day begun church service lee by Rt. Rev. Samson Naimanhye the Bishop of Busoga diocese under the theme ‘United for service and growth’.
In her remarks, vice president Alupo, wished the Mothers and all the people of Busoga the best of opportunity for social development, Family Life and worship of the Almighty God through this St. Mary’s House whose construction we are here to support.
Alupo was pleased with the Clergy in Busoga for emphasizing development in their preaching and working hard to change mindsets of the people.
“Your messages provide the relevance of God’s Word but significantly they also ask the people to develop their social skills; especially, to build strong families and be useful citizens in their localities,” Alupo said.
“This is what makes religion relevant to mankind and it should be encouraged. The NRM does not believe in dividing the people along religious lines. Religion is supposed to be a unifying force. That is why Government is committed to providing services to every Ugandan irrespective of their religion”
She emphasized that Government is working towards enabling every Ugandan to come out of poverty.
She said the Parish Development Model is the renewed Government’s effort to enable Ugandans attain a middle-income status by enhancing Household Incomes. She encouraged the people to embrace the program.
She noted that Busoga is one of the seven sub regions that have featured as the regions with very high poverty levels of all regions in Uganda and urged the people to work hard to fight poverty among households.
She encouraged the people to use the Parish Development Model to ask for accountability, to question the application of public resources and to benefit from what is available for our individual and group development. The PDM concerns all of us; Christian and non-Christian and we should all actively participate.
Alupo called upon leaders in Busoga to unite efforts to see to it that this program succeeds and the people fully benefit.
The RDCs should take the challenge and educate the citizens. They should publicise those who have received the funds and the monies got.
When there is transparency and accountability and evidence of benefit, this will attract other citizens to participate in the programme and to better their lives.
She commended the leadership and members of the Mothers’ Union of Busoga Diocese for their zeal to serve the Lord and the commitment to mobilize the women to build strong families and marriages.
She noted that this campaign of building St. Mary’s House is an effort of very many years and she was glad is coming to bear fruit under the NRM Government leadership.
“We thank God for this achievement. Indeed, through this effort, as current leaders of the Mothers’ Union, you are privileged to be leaving behind a legacy and testimony to the future generations,” The vice President said.
She appealed to the members of the Mothers’ Union of Busoga Diocese to support the struggle of defeating poverty by being ambassadors of the Parish Development Model.
She additionally, commended Mothers’ Union Busoga Diocese for showing transparency and accountability for the contribution of 80m/= (Eighty million shillings) given to you by His Excellency, the President of the Republic of Uganda towards the construction of Mary’s House, Busoga Diocese.
She contributed sh30m in total towards the construction of Mary’s House, Busoga Diocese and also pledged continuous support towards this noble work.
The 1st Deputy Premier and minister of East African Affairs Rebecca congratulated the mothers’ union and contributed sh5m towards the construction of St. Mary’s House.
Rt. Rev. Bishop Naimanhye asked the congregation to respect African values by resisting and preaching against Homosexuality and lesbianism.
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