KWANIA– As Ugandans entered the New Year 2023, those in Lango Sub-region were rallied to embrace poverty alleviation programmes initiated by government to kick out poverty from their households.
Currently, poverty prevalence in Lango Sub-region stands at 23 percent, a rise from 16 percent in 2017, according to statistics released by the Uganda Bureau of Statistics [UBOS].
However, the Very Reverend Canon Vincent Ogwang, the Dean of St. Peter’s Cathedral-Aduku in the Diocese of West Lango has rallied the faithful to embrace Parish Development Model [PDM] expected to drive 3.5 million households in Uganda out of subsistence farming into the money economy.
Launched in February 2022, by President Yoweri Museveni, the PDM Programme worth Shs 490 billion is meant to eradicate poverty through the execution of development activities at the parish level.
While delivering his New Year message at St.Peter’s Cathedral-Aduku, Ogwang said leading people who are poverty-stricken is not only a burden to church leaders but also to God. He rallied Christians to embrace the PDM and focus on development activities to eradicate household poverty.
“Leading people who are poverty-stricken is a big burden to God and fellow man. Therefore, I want to call upon everybody to embrace the PDM brought by the government so that we eradicate poverty and build strong families,” he said.
Thomas Opio Okene, a pastor attached to Amuli Baptist Church in Kwania district said it’s not all about praying the whole night but utilising opportunities availed by government to get out of poverty. “Instead of praying the whole night, join the PDM Sacco at your parish. Borrow money and invest in income-generating projects,” he said.
At Saint Joseph Catholic Church, the headquarters of Aduku Catholic Parish in Lira Diocese, the Vicar General, Rev. Valente Innocent Opio also encouraged Christians to embrace programmes initiated by the government to combat poverty in their households.
Rev. Opio noted that fighting poverty requires equity, resilience, commitment to climate change, peace, and cash. “It takes an effort to fight poverty. One needs to conserve the environment by planting trees and educating children, but above all you need cash and the capital which has been provided by the government in the Emyooga and PDM. You just need to embrace these programmes,” he said.
Meanwhile, the Bishop of West Lango Diocese, Rt. Rev. Julius Ceasar Nina Otim condemned witchcraft, prostitution, theft and excessive consumption of alcohol. In his New Year message conveyed at St. Peter’s Cathedral-Aduku, Otim said witchcraft and excessive alcohol consumption have retarded the growth of many families.
“We need to get transformed from the evils of 2022. The New Year should transform you from prostitution, witchcraft, theft, and consumption of alcohol because God condemns those acts,” he said.
Peter Otim, a representative of youth and children from West Lango Diocese to the Province of Church of Uganda rallied the young people to celebrate the new year productively.
“Instead of drinking excessively and dancing past midnights, I encourage you to celebrate it productively. I also call upon you to join the SACCOs in your parish to benefit from the PDM which will be a revolving fund,” he said.
PDM identifies seven pillars that include; production, storage, processing, and marketing; infrastructure and economic services; financial Inclusion; social services; mindset change; parish-based management information system; governance and administration.
https://thecooperator.news/church-leaders-urged-to-embrace-govt-programmes/
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