The Archbishop of the Church of Uganda, Dr. Steven Kaziimba Mugalu, has urged religious leaders to utilize land owned by religious institutions for economic coffee farming as a means of protecting it from land grabbers.
“As the chairman of the Inter-Religious Council, I encourage the use of all available land for coffee farming instead of leaving it idle and vulnerable to grabbers. Utilize the land for productive purposes rather than searching for buyers,” Archbishop Kaziimba emphasized during his pastoral visit to South Ankole Diocese at Kitunga Archdeaconry in Kajara County, Ntungamo District.
His remarks followed a visit to the Inspire Africa Coffee factory in Rwashamaire Town, a coffee value-addition enterprise spearheaded by agripreneur Nelson Tugume with government support.
Addressing Christians on Friday, Dr. Kaziimba urged them to adopt coffee farming as a tool to combat poverty. He also called for love, humility, and unity, warning against political divisions as Uganda approaches the 2025 election period.
“God calls us to be good citizens and good politicians. Do not let politics divide you. Even if you belong to different political parties, avoid harboring hatred toward one another,” he advised during his sermon to hundreds of congregants in Ntungamo District.
This marked Dr. Kaziimba’s first pastoral visit to the South Ankole Diocese since assuming office. During the three-day visit, he advocated for greater involvement of women in coffee farming, noting that while women contribute significantly to production, men often dominate the selling process and sometimes use proceeds irresponsibly, such as marrying additional wives after a successful harvest.
Nelson Tugume highlighted the potential of partnerships between religious institutions and agribusiness initiatives, citing the abundance of underutilized church land. “Commercial agriculture can transform the church from a recipient of aid to a donor,” he remarked.
Dr. Bildard Baguma, the Executive Director of Joint Medical Stores, echoed this sentiment, stressing the opportunities in a self-sustaining church. He identified coffee farming as a profitable venture that could enhance the economic stability of religious institutions in Uganda.
The Archbishop was accompanied by South Ankole Diocese Bishop Rt. Rev. Nathan Ahimbisibwe, alongside various church and political leaders, as they toured multiple areas within the diocese.
