Sembabule — On Sunday, President Yoweri Kaguta Museveni officiated at the opening of All Saints Church-Sembabule in the West Buganda Diocese, Sembabule District.
The new church, with a seating capacity of 1,200, was constructed in October 2023 through a partnership between former Foreign Affairs Minister Hon. Sam Kutesa and Tororo Cement Limited.
In his remarks, President Museveni thanked Hon. Kutesa and his partners for their generous contribution to the community and paid tribute to the early Christian pioneers whose efforts transformed Ugandan society.
He also praised the family of the late Hasmukh Kanji Patel of Tororo Cement for building churches across Uganda despite not being Christians, saying their acts reflected true faith in practice. “We shall know them by what they do, not what they say,” the President emphasised.
President Museveni further lauded Hon. Kutesa for bringing the idea to life, and commended the Indian community for their piety and spirit of service across religious boundaries.
He underscored the growing partnership between the Church and government in promoting development, wealth creation, and national unity, encouraging the faithful to continue spreading the gospel of unity, healing, and hard work.
Reflecting on his upbringing, the President shared how his parents’ conversion to Christianity in 1947 opened doors for education and progress in his family. “We salute those early pioneers,” he said.
Representing the Archbishop of the Church of Uganda, His Grace Dr. Stephen Kaziimba Mugalu, Rt. Rev. Samuel George Bogere Egesa (Bishop of Bukedi Diocese) thanked President Museveni for officiating at the ceremony and recalled his historic decision to divide Tororo District, bringing peace between the Japadhola and Iteso communities. He called for continued love and unity, especially as election seasons approach.
Bishop Egesa also praised Tororo Cement’s generosity, noting the company’s broader contribution to building churches across Uganda.
Hon. Kutesa, the former Mawogola County North MP, expressed gratitude to the President for honouring the people of Sembabule with his presence. He explained that the church was built both to honour his late parents and as a personal act of thanksgiving after surviving throat cancer—a promise he made during his recovery.
Hon. Shartsi Kutesa Musherure, Member of Parliament for Mawogola North, also thanked her parents for dedicating themselves to God’s work and appreciated President Museveni for his ongoing initiatives, including the distribution of 100,000 coffee seedlings to fight poverty in nearby Gomba District.
Rev. Canon Gaster Nsereko, Bishop of West Buganda Diocese, thanked the President for his unwavering support for the Church and its schools, while Rev. Canon Enock Muhanguzi, the Archdeacon of All Saints Church, also extended appreciation to Hon. Kutesa and his family.
Representing the Patel family of Tororo Cement, Mr. Manish Varsani thanked Hon. Kutesa for prioritising community development over personal gains, highlighting the former UN General Assembly President’s decision to focus on building a Church and school.
The ceremony was attended by ministers, Members of Parliament, religious leaders, and other dignitaries.