By Agency
President Yoweri Kaguta Museveni has implored families to take part in wealth creation to ensure the wellbeing of their members.
“A family must have wealth. If you have got a head of the family who is not a wealth creator, we don’t refer to him as a head of the family, we instead refer to him as a vagabond,” he said.
President Museveni made the remarks on Sunday during the first-ever Inter Religious Family festival at Kololo Ceremonial Grounds.
The event ran under the theme: “Celebrating family, faith, freedom: One family under God for African Renaissance”.
The President highlighted the values of a traditional African family which include; Fearing God, respect the spirits of the ancestors, care for the family members who are alive, make wealth, produce and care for children, respect and obey parents as well as education.
“Even traditionally, you had to learn how to fight but also some of the people learnt other things like Emyooga such as skills, farming and defence,” he said.
President Museveni further noted that the religions brought by foreigners are a value addition to the African tradition.
“That is what I advise; that these religions did not come to replace our base but to enrich it and when you take it like that you will not go wrong. The modern religions such as Christianity, Islam and others added value to whatever we are doing,” he said.
“But the traditional way had some weaknesses which we must get rid of like the mistreatment of women, rivalism among families, among others.”
President Museveni also expressed gratitude to the organisers of the event, saying that as the government, they are firmly behind the family as the base of society.
The President further advised the young people to take life very seriously to ensure a bright future. He also cautioned them against involving in immoral acts like having sex before the right time.
The First Lady and Minister of Education and Sports, Maama Janet Museveni said the festival reminds Ugandans of the essentiality of a family in God’s plans and purposes.
The Chairman and Founder of the Global Peace Foundation, Dr. Hyun Jin Preston Moon said their vision is to ensure that before God, the human race is one family.
“The purpose of creation is family; a family of a man and a woman who are co-creating with God in building His kingdom and that is one family under God,” Dr. Moon said.
He thanked Ugandans for denouncing the ungodly act of homosexuality.
The Peace Service Ambassador and Global Peace Foundation-Uganda Director, Mr. Milton Kambula thanked the Inter Religious Council of Uganda for taking ownership of the vision, mobilising and coordinating Ugandans as well as facilitating the whole process of making sure that the event is a success.
Dr. Joseph Sserwadda, head of the Born-Again Pentecostal faith in Uganda, lauded the President for liberalising the religious sector. He highlighted that Family Day celebrates family values, love, and compassion, emphasising that families under God contribute to building a stable nation.
