President Yoweri Kaguta Museveni on Sunday officiated at the opening of All Saints Church–Sembabule in West Buganda Diocese, Sembabule District.
The church, which accommodates up to 1,200 worshippers, was constructed in partnership between former Foreign Affairs Minister Hon. Sam Kutesa and Tororo Cement Limited. Construction began in October 2023.
In his address, President Museveni thanked Hon. Kutesa and his partners for establishing what he called a “magnificent church,” and paid tribute to early missionaries whose preaching helped transform Ugandan society.
He also praised the late Hasmukh Kanji Patel’s family of Tororo Cement for generously supporting the construction of churches across Uganda despite their Hindu faith.
“These Indian people may not be Christians, but in their religion they value piety. That’s why you see them aim at purity of life, conduct, and brotherhood,” Museveni said.
He added, “We shall know them by what they do, not what they say,” quoting Jesus Christ to underscore the importance of actions over words.
The President emphasized the role of the Church in fostering national development through values like unity, hard work, and compassion. He encouraged Christians to continue feeding the hungry, healing the sick, and working towards social transformation.
Reflecting on his personal background, Museveni shared that while his great-grandparents initially resisted Christianity, his parents, Amos Kaguta and Esteri Kokundeka, converted in 1947 — a decision that led him and many of his peers to pursue education.
“We really salute those pioneers,” he said.
Representing the Archbishop of the Church of Uganda, Rt. Rev. Samuel George Bogere Egesa of Bukedi Diocese thanked Museveni for officiating the ceremony. He also commended his decision to divide Tororo District into four administrative units — a move that helped ease ethnic tensions between the Japadhola and Iteso communities.
“Your Excellency, we thank you for the peace, stability, and security in our country. Because of that, we enjoy freedom of worship,” Bishop Egesa said.
He also recognized Tororo Cement’s continued generosity in supporting church construction across the country.
Hon. Sam Kutesa explained that the church was built for two deeply personal reasons: to honor his parents who embraced Christianity and to fulfill a vow he made to God after surviving throat cancer.
“This Church is a thanksgiving to God for saving my life and a tribute to my parents who spread the transformative gospel,” he said.
Hon. Shartsi Kutesa Musherure, MP for Mawogola North, praised her parents’ dedication to God’s work and thanked President Museveni for his initiatives aimed at poverty alleviation, including the recent distribution of 100,000 coffee seedlings in Gomba District.
Rev. Canon Gaster Nsereko, Bishop of West Buganda Diocese, and Rev. Canon Enock Muhanguzi, Archdeacon of All Saints Church, also expressed gratitude to both Museveni and the Kutesa family for their contributions to the Church and community education.
Mr. Manish Varsani, representing the Patel family of Tororo Cement, noted that when approached, Hon. Kutesa prioritized a church and school over personal projects — a gesture the company was proud to support.
The commissioning was attended by government ministers, Members of Parliament, religious leaders, and community members.
