Religious leaders in Masindi District have been urged to take a leading role in restoring ethical values among families and communities as part of efforts to build a morally upright society.
The call was made by Assistant Commissioner for Religious Affairs Justus Rubarema during a meeting with representatives of faith-based organisations at the Masindi District headquarters.
The meeting focused on promoting ethics and integrity at household and community levels through increased involvement of religious institutions.
While presenting the National Ethical Values Policy, Rubarema said the initiative seeks to strengthen moral responsibility among citizens and support Uganda’s social and economic transformation goals.
"Faith institutions should go beyond sermons and hold practical sessions to instill values in communities," Rubarema said.
The policy is built on four key pillars: strengthening service delivery systems, establishing supportive legal frameworks, developing skilled personnel, and improving accountability through the involvement of the media and civil society.
It promotes ten national ethical values, including respect for people and the environment, honesty, fairness, hard work, integrity, innovation, social responsibility, harmony, unity and patriotism.
Masindi Chief Administrative Officer Samuel Ruhweza Kaija urged religious leaders to also use their platforms to sensitise communities about government programmes aimed at improving household incomes.
He specifically mentioned programmes such as the Parish Development Model (PDM), Emyooga, Uganda Women Entrepreneurship Programme (UWEP) and the Youth Livelihood Programme (YLP).
"Faith leaders should use their platforms to promote both spiritual growth and government programmes that improve household incomes," Kaija said.
The district officials said partnerships with religious institutions remain critical in promoting responsible citizenship, fighting corruption and strengthening community development.
