President Yoweri Kaguta Museveni was joined by his wife to apologise for mistakes made during their leadership of the country .
They especially mentioned mistakes made against the people of Buganda and other parts of the country and asked for forgiveness during the official closing of a five day spiritual gathering, which began on May 19th, 2025 and was hosted by his daughter ,Pastor Patience Rwabwogo, the lead pastor of Covenant Nations Church, under the theme “The Crossing.” The well attended event was held at Kololo Independence grounds .
“As top top leaders of the National Resistance Movement (NRM), we take responsibility for all mistakes made by ourselves , our agents and our representatives . We therefore, stand here to repent and ask for your forgiveness; ,and forgiveness of especially the people of Buganda and the whole country . We pray for restoration and favour.
God restore the favour that we had with them in the beginning and reconnect us to our original national unity and unwavering commitment to social and economic transformation of our country together,” the two national leaders said in a statement they jointly read out.
In his speech President Museveni commended the church for what he described as a significant transformation from being part of the problem to now being a cornerstone of peace, responsibility, and spiritual progress in Uganda.
Museveni in the company of his wife and Minister of Education ,Janet Museveni, was officially closing the Light Up Uganda for Jesus Mission Convention at Kololo Independence Grounds.
The five-day
The convention drew thousands of faithful from across the country for prayer, worship, and a renewed call to national transformation through faith. The day’s preaching was delivered by guest speaker Bishop LaDonna Osborn, who emphasized peace, leadership responsibility, and togetherness among Ugandans.
Drawing from Philippians 4:5 and Ephesians 2:10, she reminded the nation’s leaders and citizens alike of their divine purpose. “We are His workmanship, urging all believers to live out their calling with love and unity,” Patience Rwabwogo declared.
The convention also included powerful intercessory prayers specifically dedicated to the Central Region, focusing on spiritual revival, social healing, and national stability.
President Museveni, who was accompanied by the First Lady and Minister of Education and Sports, Maama Janet Kataaha Museveni, said, “I congratulate Patience and her church for this great effort, and I will say why later.”
He emphasized that for a long time, churches and religious institutions had contributed to divisions within Uganda and elsewhere, citing historical examples of sectarianism.
“I want to congratulate the churches because it seems you are improving. Remember, the churches were part of the problem in Europe and certainly here in Uganda. Because of narrow-mindedness, both the churches and the Muslims were part of the problem,” he said.
President Museveni reflected on Uganda’s past, where religion was a basis for political affiliation during the 1962 elections, leading to entrenched divisions. “One party was for the Catholics, another for the Protestants, and another for the Baganda. The peace we are enjoying in Uganda now is because we rejected that rubbish,” he said.
The President also credited the National Resistance Movement (NRM) for refusing to adopt the divisive politics of religious denominations and emphasized Africa’s deep roots and resilient societies that existed long before the arrival of foreign religions.
“African societies are ancient, four and a half million years old. Islam came in 1841, Anglicanism in 1877, and Catholicism in 1879. Yet within ten years, they were already fighting each other using guns: Protestants backed by England, Catholics by France, and Muslims by Turkey,” he said.
President Museveni, who said he took a personal interest in Christianity, outlined six core values he drew from the Bible that have guided his beliefs and leadership.
“Number one is resurrection. Traditional religion wasn’t clear on this. They said in our language, ‘abaafa tibazooka’ (the dead do not return). But Christianity introduced the idea of life after death,” he said.
He highlighted Jesus’ teachings on love and selflessness as central to his personal philosophy. “Jesus said, ‘Love God with all your heart and love your neighbor as yourself. If I had time to start my own church, that is what I would teach,” he said.
President Museveni also praised the parable of the talents for promoting responsibility and productivity, values aligned with the NRM’s development agenda. “That parable tells people to use their talents, improve their lives, and glorify God. It resonates with what God said in Genesis: ‘Multiply and fill the earth,” he said.
He strongly emphasized the parable of the Good Samaritan as a rejection of sectarianism and racism, a principle on which the NRM was founded. Referencing St. Paul, President Museveni denounced laziness and misinterpretations of scripture that undermine the work ethic. His sixth point focused on leading by example and avoiding religious disputes.
The President urged religious leaders to acknowledge both the positive and negative aspects of tradition, pointing out that not everything inherited should be accepted.
He expressed deep personal joy over the role of Pastor Patience, who became the first preacher in his (President Museveni’s) family.
“I am very happy with Patience. She is the first preacher in our family. The missionaries came to our area in 1877. My great-grandfather didn’t join the church, nor did my grandfather. Only my father, my mother, and I joined in 1947. This is the first time we have had a pastor in the family. I’m looking forward to seeing her become a bishop. Maama is also very happy,” he said.
