UGANDA: President asks Church to fight poverty

President Museveni has asked church
leaders to devote more resources to transforming the religious and
social-economic lives of the poor in the rural setting in order to end house
hold poverty.

While giving his congratulatory
remarks at the launch of Mapeera House, Centenary Bank’s new home yesterday,
the President said after the impressive success the church has attained, it
should now invest more in changing the lives of the rural poor, from
subsistence livelihood to producing food for both domestic and commercial
consumption.

“According to the 2002 census, 68
per cent of homesteads are under subsistence farming. Statistics show that
Centenary Bank has 1.2 million customers. Church leaders should analyse who are
these people banking. Are they part of the 68 per cent or from the money
economy? Do all categories of Ugandans borrow or not?” Mr Museveni said at the
function held in Kampala.

“Given this great success, I would
appeal to Bishops to look at the 68 per cent of people who are in subsistence
farming. The message should be food security and income security. If we can
have all families involved in the production for both food and cash, then
everyone will be happy and rich.”

Formed in 1985 by the Catholic
Church leadership, Centenary Bank is the biggest indigenous bank in Uganda with
1.2 million account holders, assets of about Shs1 trillion and 54 branches
spread across the country.

Yesterday, it officially entered its
new headquarters, Mapeera House located opposite Constitution Square, that cost
$40 million , all from its retained earnings (internally generated incomes).

At the function, Prof. John Ddumba
Ssentamu, the board chairperson Centenary Bank, pledged that his bank will use
its current good run to continue catering for the needs of the people.

“When we started 25
years ago, our goal was to provide micro-finance in an easy and convenient way.
That is still our focus. Even with this growth, we shall continue to serve with
love and unite.”