Born Again Faith Leaders Urge Government to Prioritise Sports Over Agriculture
Hundreds of youth, mostly holidaymakers, gathered at Health First and Fitness Gym in Jinja for a Sports Evangelism event organised by Born Again faith leaders.
The event featured a variety of sports, including football, netball, volleyball, rugby, table tennis, and chess, aimed at nurturing talents while promoting evangelism.
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Bishop Richard Kyendakulya, the overseer of the Fellowship of Born Again Churches in Jinja City, emphasised the dual purpose of the event, calling it a platform for both spiritual growth and talent development.
“Whenever there is a sports event, many people turn up, as you have seen today. Therefore, we hit two birds with one stone, preaching the gospel and promoting talents,” he said.
Bishop Kyendakulya called on the government to prioritise sports over agriculture, arguing that agricultural programs aimed at poverty alleviation have not yielded significant results.
He urged the construction of sports facilities to create job opportunities and tap into the economic potential of sports.
“Sports is highly paying and offers jobs to many. Let the government invest in this sector to empower our youth,” he added.
Pastor Holiness Kibumba echoed similar sentiments, pointing out that sports professionals are among the highest earners globally. “Sportsmen earn more than professors in most cases. By investing in sports, we create jobs for young people,” he said.
Pastor Paul Batambuze and rugby player David Wako of Jinja Hippos Rugby Club also highlighted the need for better sports facilities to nurture young talent and open career opportunities for youth across all education levels.
However, the idea has drawn mixed reactions. Emmanuel Dombo, the spokesperson for the ruling National Resistance Movement (NRM), dismissed the proposal, calling it unrealistic.
“That is total rubbish because even those people suggesting the idea eat food every day. Does food come from sports facilities?” he remarked.
Dombo emphasised that agriculture is crucial for food security and remains a government priority. He added that sports are also receiving attention, with plans underway to construct two major stadia in Hoima City and Lira. “Even Jesus told us in the Bible to pray for our daily bread, not daily sports,” Dombo quipped.
The debate between prioritising agriculture and sports continues, as religious leaders and sports enthusiasts push for more investment in talent development to address youth unemployment and economic challenges.
The Sports Evangelism event also included other services like blood donation, financial literacy, and other health tips.
