The Archbishop of the Kampala Archdiocese, Paul Ssemogerere, has praised President Museveni for taking a step back in the proposed Sovereignty Bill, warning that it would have caused nationwide unrest.
Speaking during the commissioning of a Catholic-built structure named Ora et Labora (“Pray and Work”) at St. Joseph Catholic Church Nansana, the Archbishop said the bill had the potential to destabilize the country at a time when citizens were still recovering from election-related tensions.
“People had just begun to settle down after the tensions of elections, and then such a bill comes up to raise anxiety again,” Archbishop Ssemwogerere said.
The Ora et Labora building, whose name was inspired by the late Archbishop Cyprian Kizito Lwanga, was officially opened in a ceremony attended by religious leaders, politicians, and members of the public.
During Mass held at St. Joseph Catholic Church Nansana, as Catholics worldwide commemorated St. Joseph, Archbishop Ssemogerere emphasized the value of hard work, making it the central theme of his sermon.
“Many men today spend their energy mistreating their wives and children instead of working to improve their families’ lives,” he said. “Some have resorted to begging whenever they get the chance, which undermines their dignity.”
He urged Ugandans to embrace productivity and responsibility, warning that idleness and dependency were eroding social values.
He also commended judicial authorities for the swift and transparent handling of the case involving Christopher Okello Onyum, urging citizens to draw lessons from it.
“Let this be an example to all Ugandans to stop the belief in human sacrifice as a way of acquiring wealth,” he said.
The Archbishop expressed gratitude to the family of the late Nuhu Mbogo for donating the land on which the building stands.
Meanwhile, the parish priest, Dominic Mwebe, highlighted the challenges faced during construction and thanked all contributors.
“It has not been an easy journey, but we are grateful to everyone who supported this project to completion,” Fr. Mwebe said.
Christians welcomed the development, describing it as a sign of growth and progress in Nansana.
The Archbishop toured the building before the Mass and later officially commissioned it. Construction took just ten months after he laid the foundation stone on March 17, 2024.
