Minister urges religious leaders to promote morality, accountability at Fr. Musana’s Priesthood Jubilee. 

The Minister for Science, Technology and Innovation, Hon. Eng. Jonard Asiimwe Akiiki, has called on religious leaders to intensify preaching values of honesty, forgiveness and integrity as a way of addressing challenges affecting society, including corruption and poor service delivery.

The Minister made the remarks while officiating the celebrations marking 25 years of priesthood for Rev. Father Anthony Musana at Wansimba Parish, Namagera Town Council in Jinja District, held under the theme: “The Favours of the Lord I will Recall” (Isaiah 63:7).

Hon. Akiiki conveyed greetings from President Yoweri Kaguta Museveni, the First Lady and Minister of Education and Sports, Mama Janet Kataha Museveni, and the entire staff of the Office of the President.

He commended Rev. Fr. Musana’s family for nurturing him in faith, citing Proverbs 22:6, which encourages parents to train children in the right path so that they remain committed even in old age.

The Minister praised Rev. Fr. Musana for dedicating his life to serving God and guiding communities towards good morals and responsible living.

He noted that religious and political leaders, though with different responsibilities, share a common purpose of serving people and promoting national development.

“A nation with both good religious and political leaders is often guided in the right direction, creating peaceful and responsible communities,” Akiiki said.

He emphasized that God-fearing citizens contribute to national progress by speaking the truth, rejecting corruption and promoting honesty in homes, schools, workplaces and communities.

The Minister also highlighted the role of religious institutions in promoting reconciliation, tolerance and dialogue, especially during periods of political tension and social divisions.

He urged religious leaders to continue spreading the word of God, saying strong moral values among citizens can help the country overcome challenges such as corruption, which has affected public trust and service delivery.

“A strong nation needs both moral citizens and responsible leaders working together to improve service delivery, fight poverty and transform the economy,” he said

Hon. Akiiki encouraged communities to embrace government wealth creation programmes, including the 4-acre model, Parish Development Model (PDM), Emyooga and GROW, as tools for improving household incomes and fighting poverty.

As the country enters the final phase of local council elections, the Minister urged voters to support NRM flag bearers, saying local governments are critical in ensuring effective service delivery at the grassroots.

He noted that local councils play a key role in identifying and monitoring beneficiaries of programmes such as PDM, maintaining security and implementing government development initiatives.

He called on leaders in Busoga Sub-region to work together in addressing poverty and promoting economic transformation for the benefit of communities.