Minister Babalanda Calls on Religious Leaders to Preach Wealth-Creation Alongside the Gospel to Combat Poverty

NAMAYINGO: The Minister for the Presidency, Member of Parliament for Budiope West Constituency and Director for Busoga SDA Women field, Hon. Babirye Milly Babalanda, yesterday officiated at the closure of a one-week Seventh-day Adventist (SDA) Camp Retreat in Namayingo District.

Speaking to hundreds of worshippers, Minister Babalanda conveyed greetings from H.E. President Yoweri Kaguta Museveni, the First Lady and Minister of Education and Sports, Mama Janet Kataha Museveni, the Permanent Secretary Office of the President, Hajji Yunus Kakande, and the entire staff of the Office of the President.

The Minister expressed gratitude to the organizers of the retreat for dedicating time to learn wisdom from the Bible and to praise God.

She noted that the NRM Government, under the stewardship of H.E. President Yoweri Kaguta Museveni, has guaranteed freedom of worship and recognizes religious institutions as key partners in national development, unity, and moral transformation.

“The NRM has given us peace and freedom to worship. Churches and mosques are now central in shaping the morals and development of our communities,” Hon. Babalanda said.

The Minister called upon church pastors and leaders to use their pulpits and platforms to preach and mobilize communities on Government wealth-creation initiatives as part of efforts to fight household poverty and accelerate national development.

She listed key Wealth Creation Government programmes including the Parish Development Model – PDM, Emyooga, Youth Livelihood Programme, Operation Wealth Creation – OWC, GROW, etc.

“What we need now is to use these resources with integrity, unity, a spirit of hard work, and saving, to turn them into wealth, jobs, and better services,” she urged.

The Minister specifically urged the people of Namayingo to embrace the 4-Acre Model, a household wealth creation strategy designed to help rural families escape poverty by intensively using small pieces of land.

Under the model:- Acre 1: Coffee or cocoa – a long-term cash crop for stable income – Acre 2: Fruits such as oranges, mangoes, and passion fruit – Acre 3: Food crops such as maize, beans, cassava, sweet potatoes, and vegetables for food security – Acre 4: Pasture for zero-grazing dairy animals

She also encouraged adoption of poultry farming for eggs, suitable for Muslims and SDAs, and piggery for non-Muslims in the backyard, in line with President Museveni’s directive as the champion of wealth creation.

Hon. Babalanda reminded believers that working hard with their hands is part of Christian faith.

“As believers in Christ, working hard with our hands is a key part of our faith, and God blesses that effort to help us beat poverty. Let us work hard beyond praising God alone; that’s how we shall overcome poverty,” she concluded.

The retreat brought together Area leaders, members of SDA Church across Namayingo and neighboring districts for prayer, Bible study, and community fellowship.