President Calls for Wealth Creation, Family Values at Inter-Religious Family Festival

President Yoweri Kaguta Museveni has urged families to participate in wealth creation to ensure their well-being.

“A family must have wealth. If the head of the family is not a wealth creator, we don’t refer to him as a head of the family; we refer to him as a vagabond,” he stated.

President Museveni made these remarks yesterday during the first-ever Inter-Religious Family Festival at Kololo Ceremonial Grounds.

The event, themed “Celebrating Family, Faith, Freedom: One Family Under God for African Renaissance,” emphasized traditional African family values. These values include fearing God, respecting the spirits of ancestors, caring for living family members, generating wealth, raising and caring for children, respecting and obeying parents, and prioritizing education.

“Traditionally, you had to learn how to fight, but some people also learned other skills such as farming and defense,” Museveni said.

He acknowledged the positive contributions of religions introduced by foreigners to African traditions.

“My advice is that these religions didn’t come to replace our base but to enrich it. When you take it like that, you will not go wrong. Modern religions such as Christianity, Islam, and others added value to what we are doing,” he said.

“But the traditional way had weaknesses, like the mistreatment of women and rivalry among families, which we must eliminate.”

Museveni expressed gratitude to the event organizers, affirming the government’s support for the family as the foundation of society.

“Those preaching a different line, of course, are not right. We know about homosexuals and lesbians, and we have told our friends from the West that homosexuality, after our analysis, is a deviation from normal. The Western countries argue it’s not a deviation but an alternative lifestyle. We say no; it’s not. We cannot have two ways of life,” he stated.

“I want to thank the Global Peace Foundation of Dr. Moon for organizing this occasion.”

The President also advised young people to take life seriously to ensure a bright future and cautioned them against engaging in immoral acts like premarital sex.

“Don’t play with your life; be strict with it. When you are young, respect your parents, study, and help at home. Parents should also expose their children to life and work,” he said.

“Don’t try to be a wife or husband when you are not married. Concentrate on your studies, and when you finish, then consider marriage.”

First Lady and Minister of Education and Sports Janet Kataha Museveni emphasized the importance of family in God’s plans and purposes.

“The idea of a family festival comes at a crucial time, given the significant challenges countries face globally in sustaining values and morals essential for an integral and productive society,” Mrs. Museveni said.

“God’s intention at creation was for the family to be the foundation for nurturing children as responsible members of society from a spiritual, social, cultural, and moral perspective. Unfortunately, the cherished African traditional system is increasingly weakened by new family patterns due to globalization and other factors.”

She highlighted government efforts, including policy frameworks and legislation like the Traditional and Cultural Leaders Act of 2011, as crucial for cultural institutions to advocate for positive norms and customs. She urged religious and cultural leaders to promote the coexistence of cultural and religious values.

“We all have a duty to purge offensive cultures from our society,” she stated.

She stressed the need to combat harmful practices like defilement and child sacrifice.

“I appeal to all Ugandans to teach and model positive values for the benefit of the next generation.”

“Through these efforts and by the grace of God, we will witness families and a nation free from vices such as juvenile delinquency, moral decadence, corruption, and substance abuse,” she added.

Mrs. Museveni also thanked the Inter-Religious Council of Uganda, the Global Peace Foundation, and the Government of Uganda for organizing the festival.

“Thank you all for turning up in large numbers to celebrate the Family Festival 2024.”

The Minister of State for Public Service, Hon. Grace Mary Mugasa, representing Hon. Muruli Mukasa, the Minister of Public Service, noted that the festival was organized by the Inter-Religious Council of Uganda in conjunction with the Global Peace Foundation and the Government of Uganda.

“Today we aim to revitalize family values,” she said.

The Global Peace Foundation honored President Museveni and Mrs. Janet Museveni for championing family values, culture, and religious freedom in Africa.

The Chairman and Founder of the Global Peace Foundation, Dr. Hyun Jin Preston Moon, emphasized their vision of humanity as one family under God.

“The purpose of creation is family; a family of a man and a woman co-creating with God in building His kingdom, and that is one family under God,” Dr. Moon said.

He thanked Ugandans for denouncing the act of homosexuality.

“I was told that here in Africa, you recognize that marriage and family is between a man and a woman. That is the universal truth,” he said.

The Peace Service Ambassador and Global Peace Foundation-Uganda Director, Mr. Milton Kambula, thanked the Inter-Religious Council of Uganda for their role in making the event a success.

“Your Excellency, I want to tell everyone that we are here inspired by the idea of one family under God as championed by the testimony we are signing today,” he said.

Dr. Joseph Sserwadda, head of the Born-Again Pentecostal faith in Uganda, praised the President for liberalizing the religious sector. He noted that Family Day celebrates family values, love, and compassion, and emphasized that families under God contribute to a stable nation.

“When families are stable, they create a solid foundation for society. Everyone has the right to life and liberty. Mothers deserve special care and attention,” he said.

Dr. Sserwadda added that marriage should be entered into freely by both eligible parties, with husband and wife as equal partners.

“Families hold the primary responsibility for nurturing children, ensuring their harmonious development in an environment filled with love and understanding,” he noted.

He advised that societal institutions should assist parents in nurturing their children.

“Parents should actively define the education their children receive, ensuring it aligns with their religious and moral beliefs,” Dr. Sserwadda added.