President Yoweri Museveni has said that Uganda is beginning to go over the hill after starting from a low base in 1986.
He said that Uganda has been climbing uphill but has now started going up the hill after laying the foundation.
The President made the remarks at the Annual Thanksgiving ceremony that he and the First Lady, Hon. Janet Museveni hosted at State House Entebbe under the theme taken from Psalms 133:1 “Behold, how good and how pleasant it is for brethren to dwell together in unity”.
“We now have enough electricity, better roads. You heard Bishop Joseph Abura from Karamoja Diocese testify that he is now able to travel faster from Karamoja to Kampala,” he said.
“The President said that Ugandans have also woken up and started working.There has been bumper harvest and the prices and production of many food stuffs is coming down,” he said.
He cited the production of maize that has risen from 2 million bags to 5 million bags adding that the bumper harvests have helped to bring down the cost of food stuffs for the urban dwellers which would also help in reducing inflation.
President Museveni said the only problem left in Uganda is corruption and that government is committed to ending it.
“I can guarantee you that we shall defeat corruption,” he said. He commended the organizers of the Thanksgiving function for involving all Ugandans in the ceremony.
“Thank you for bringing Ugandans to Entebbe. Many times, you just bring people from around Kampala like Christ the King and All Saints’ Church choirs but today you have even brought the students from St. Henry’s College Kitovu,” he said.
Dr. Barry Lenhardt of the International Life Coach and co-founder of Living Life by Design, who took the sermon, called upon Ugandans to unite.
“Division always unites darkness. If we unify, the ship of Uganda will sail well,” he said.
Dr. Lenhardt also prayed for Uganda to become a model country in the world. “I believe God is going to make Uganda a model country. Uganda is not meant to only lead Africa but lead the whole world,” he said.
He commended President Museveni for what he has done for Uganda under his leadership and the First Family for their spirituality.
President Museveni commended Dr. Lenhardt for his prayers for the future of Uganda.
Earlier, the Deputy Inspector General of Government (IGG), George Bamugemereire took the first reading (Psalms 133 NKJV), Sheikh Muhammed Ali Waiswa, the Deputy Mufti of Uganda took the second reading (Qur’an 49:13, 21:30 and 2:103) and the third reading, (Colossians 3:12-15 and Ephesians 4:2-6 NKJV)was taken by the Minister of Kampala Capital City Authority, Beti KamyaTurwomwe.
Hon. Cecilia Atim Ogwal, the Dokolo Woman Member of Parliament, led the congregation in a prayer for the nation. She prayed that corruption and wickedness that rocked the country this year such as the killings and theft come to an end. “This nation is going to be a clean nation,” she prayed.
Monsignor John Wynand Katende of Lubaga Cathedral Kampala led the congregation in a prayer for the family. He prayed for Ugandans to forgive each other and have humanity towards the needs of fellow countrymen.
“It is in the safety of families that children be nurtured and groomed. It is in a home that we learn forgiveness,” he said.
The First Lady, Mrs. Janet Museveni, led the closing prayer. She thanked God for the daily mercies He pours upon Ugandans at their places of work and in their households.
“Uganda as a nation would not have come this far and accomplished anything if it was not for God’s grace,” she said.Mrs.Museveni also prayed for Ugandans and Africa at large to unite and minimize their differences and instead magnify the things that unite them.
“The sin of Africa is that we are easily divided. The Bible says that a house divided against itself cannot stand,” she warned. The President’s daughter, Pastor Patience Museveni Rwabwogo, Vice President Edward Ssekandi, Prime Minister Dr.Ruhakana Rugunda, Deputy Speaker of Parliament Jacob Oulanyah, Deputy Chief Justice Owiny Dollo, Commander of the Defense Forces, General David Muhoozi, Church of Uganda Archbishop, Most Rev. Stanley Ntagali, Minister for Security Elly Tumwiine, Minister of Finance Matia Kasaijja, Minister of Planning David Bahati, Minister for the Presidency Esther Mbayo, State Minister of Ethics and Integrity, Fr. Simon Lokodo, Minister of State for Veteran Affairs, Bright Rwamirama, Members of Parliament and the diplomatic corps, permanent secretaries and commissioners, among others, attended the ceremony