President Museveni made the call on Sunday during celebrations marking 100 years of St. Mary’s Lubaga Cathedral, where he described hard work as the foundation for prosperity and divine favor. Quoting scripture, he reminded believers that “Man eateth from where he worketh.”
The event, attended by thousands of Catholic faithful, clergy, government officials, and dignitaries, also drew representatives from other faiths and the Buganda Kingdom, including the Prime Minister.
Before the thanksgiving Mass, Museveni commended the Catholic Church for its enduring role in shaping Uganda’s moral and social fabric.
He praised its long-standing contributions to education, healthcare, and value-based leadership, noting that these have been vital in nurturing a disciplined and productive citizenry.
“The Church has done a lot in teaching discipline, integrity, and service. But we must remember that spirituality should go hand in hand with hard work. Even the Holy Scriptures condemn laziness,” the President said.
He urged Christians to translate their faith into tangible action by working hard to transform their families and communities, saying true faith is best expressed through diligence and productivity.
Archbishop Paul Ssemogerere of Kampala Archdiocese used the occasion to highlight the growing crisis of land grabbing, which he said now threatens even Church-owned properties.
He appealed to the President to intervene and protect religious institutions from encroachment.
“Your Excellency, the issue of land grabbing has become rampant, and even Church land is no longer safe,” the Archbishop said.
Museveni acknowledged the concern and assured the Church of government’s commitment to tackling corruption and irregularities in land administration.
He pledged that justice would be upheld in cases involving Church land and other property disputes.
The Archbishop’s warning comes amid rising cases of land wrangles involving Church properties across Uganda, including in dioceses such as Kiyinda-Mityana, where families have challenged historical donations made decades ago under informal or undocumented agreements.
St Mary’s Lubaga Cathedral, completed in 1925, remains one of Uganda’s most iconic religious landmarks.
Beyond being a spiritual center, it stands as a symbol of the Catholic Church’s century-long partnership with the Ugandan community.
As the celebrations concluded, Museveni urged Ugandans to emulate the discipline and resilience that have sustained the Church for a century, saying the same principles were needed to drive national transformation.
“Let us build a nation of producers, not consumers. We should all remember that prosperity comes from effort, and God blesses the work of our hands,” Museveni said.