Lweza– The Archbishop of Church of Uganda, The Most Rev. Dr. Stephen Samuel Kaziimba Mugalu, has today officially opened a four-day capacity building and training workshop for Diocesan Household and Community Transformation (HCT) Coordinators at Lweza Training and Conference Centre. HCT Directorate is the social-economic development arm of the Church of Uganda.
In his keynote address, Archbishop Kaziimba urged participants to uphold integrity, remain non-partisan, and strategically position themselves for excellence in their ministry and service. He emphasized that integrity is a priceless virtue, reminding participants that “a good name is more desirable than great riches” (Proverbs 22:1).
The Archbishop encouraged officers to be intentional about environmental conservation through tree planting, reading and continuous learning, maintaining physical health, and ensuring timely reporting to strengthen their work in community transformation.
He also cautioned them against joining partisan politics which often causes divisions amongst the flock they lead. He reminded them that their calling is way much above any political office.
“If anyone wishes to engage politically, they must first resign from Church positions. As servants of the Kingdom, you are called to preach peace and unity. Remember, any statement you make is taken as the position of Church of Uganda.” he said.
Kurt Dillinger, President and Founder of Life International, said that the organization is committed to strengthening families and upholding the sanctity of life.
“We are against abortion because it does not value God’s creation. We are training leaders and communities globally to understand the value of every human life—from the unborn, to persons with disabilities, to the poor—helping them embrace a personal relationship with Jesus Christ.” Mr. Dillinger said.
He further revealed that Life International has a five-year partnership with the Church of Uganda aimed at training leaders at different levels across the Church.
Chuck Bentley, President and Founder of Crown Ministries International, decried the global narrative on population that portrays growth as a crisis.
“There is no problem with a large population. It is a mindset of some demographers who push for global population reduction. Real focus should be on realizing human potential and practicing responsible stewardship. All of us have the responsibility to be good stewards of God’s resources,” he stressed.
The Very Rev. Canon Dr. Rebecca Nyegenye, the Provost of All Saints’ Cathedral Kampala, led the opening devotion drawn from Galatians 6:9, encouraging participants not to grow weary in doing good. She reminded them that doing good is not a choice but a calling because believers are God’s workmanship, created for service.
The Provincial Secretary of Church of Uganda, Rev. Canon William Ongeng, reiterated this call, stressing that deeper spiritual maturity is evidenced by practical expressions of faith—through kindness, compassion, and selfless service to all people, without discrimination based on their economic or social standing.
Rev. Andrew Agaba, the Director of Household and Community Transformation, said the training is timely as it will enhance the productivity of coordinators across the province.
He noted that the four-day workshop is designed to strengthen the capacity of diocesan officers to spearhead transformational initiatives that address poverty, empower households, and promote Kingdom values in communities throughout Uganda.
During the workshop, participants are engaging with a wide range of topics including youth skilling as a pathway to societal transformation, food security and sustainable livelihoods as anchors for household and community development, gender justice and the socio-economic empowerment of women, girls, and boys, as well as environmental conservation.
The program also features sessions on engaging women in agriculture and a field visit to the National Agricultural Research Organization (NARO) for training in fish farming.
