High Court Judge Lady Justice Christine Kaahwa said Ugandans must deliberately build positive legacies anchored on values that endure beyond material gain or personal fame.
“Each one of us should build a legacy and a positive one. For a positive one, it must be done by deliberate effort, not through dribbling through life,” she said.
Justice Kaahwa underscored that legacy-building should be grounded in strong moral and spiritual foundations, particularly the Bible, which she described as a “life manual.”
She warned that legacies built on corruption, dishonesty, or the pursuit of fame are unsustainable.
“The firm foundation must therefore be based on our life manual, and that is the Bible. If it is prohibited, then it is an illegal foundation,” she said during a faith leaders’ summit and book launch held at the Imperial Resort Beach Hotel in Entebbe.
Drawing from her judicial experience, Kaahwa urged leaders in politics, law, religion, economics, and diplomacy to use their positions for the greater good rather than self-glorification.
She criticized practices such as the commercialization of faith through miracle payments, noting that such acts distort God’s purpose.
“In whatever aspect of life that the Lord has blessed us, we should be mindful of the fact that He does not share His glory with another,” she added.
She emphasized that true legacy is measured by humility, service, and the impact one leaves behind.
“Long after we are gone, our words and actions will still be quoted. That is the legacy we must build,” she said, calling for workplace mentorship and personal testimonies as tools for inspiring change.
Deputy Minister of National Planning Beatrice Akello also called on religious institutions to take a more active role in mobilizing communities for socio-economic transformation, saying churches and mosques are vital partners in Uganda’s development agenda.
“The church plays a crucial role in socio-economic transformation because we are partners with government in the development of our areas,” Akello said.
She noted that while government carries out mobilization, faith leaders often enjoy greater trust and credibility among citizens.
“The church can do that even better than us, because they have followers who believe in them 100%. When church leaders speak, congregation members listen carefully, believe in them, and take up their messages seriously,” she added.
Akello urged churches to go beyond prayers and encourage their members to embrace economic activities, reminding them that even creation was a process of work.
“For our country to develop, churches need to rise up and mobilize their congregation members for development. It is not only about prayers even God worked. When you read Genesis chapter one, God created everything. He worked and rested after work. He did not begin with rest,” she said.
State Minister of Economic Monitoring, Beatrice Akello Akori, echoed the same message, calling on religious leaders to partner with government in spreading awareness about development programs, particularly those aimed at lifting Ugandans out of poverty.
She also stressed the importance of strong families, describing them as a gift from God and a cornerstone of social transformation.
Deputy Inspector General of Government (IGG) Dr. Patricia Okiria Achan placed the fight against corruption at the heart of the discussions, urging religious leaders to leverage their moral authority in shaping public attitudes.
She described corruption as “theft of public resources,” warning that legal enforcement alone cannot defeat the vice.
“When they preach the Word of God, they are actually transforming people. They contribute to mindset change by reminding society that theft is wrong, because corruption is simply theft of public resources,” Dr. Okiria said.
She stressed that faith-based institutions, which reach millions of Ugandans, are uniquely placed to amplify messages of honesty, accountability, and service.
“Religious leaders play a very significant role in mentoring people, in preaching the word of God, and in encouraging them to stand as examples,” she said, adding that corruption must be tackled early before it becomes normalized.
Okiria also challenged political and spiritual leaders alike to embrace servant leadership and to act as role models in integrity and accountability. “The fight against corruption cannot be left to government agencies alone. It must be driven by moral transformation led by trusted institutions,” she emphasized.
Speakers at the event, including a representative from Rwanda’s Ministry of Finance, Faith Kobusingye Mugambwa, reiterated the importance of serving in government while upholding Christian values.
The book launched at the summit also highlighted worship as the ultimate purpose of life, alongside patience, forgiveness, and the building of strong families rooted in faith.
The messages from the summit and related engagements underscored a common theme: that Uganda’s future depends not only on economic growth or governance reforms, but also on moral renewal.
Leaders emphasized that building legacies, strengthening families, mobilizing communities, and fighting corruption all require values-based leadership anchored in faith, integrity, and service to others.