Museveni urges Tororo locals to reject tribal frictions

President Museveni has urged the people of Tororo to steer clear of tribal divisions, calling for unity among the various ethnic groups in the district.

Speaking at the closure of the “Light Up Eastern Region Convocation” at Elgon View Field, Tororo District, Museveni condemned tribal and religious conflicts, which he said could lead to the kind of destruction witnessed in Sudan.

“When you talk about the frictions among the Bateso in Tororo County and the Badama, why should this be a problem?” Museveni asked. “Why should a Mudama have a problem with a Muteso speaking his language? All those tribes were created by God.”

The president made it clear that tribal animosities are senseless, urging communities to respect each other’s cultural identities.

He further warned that such divisions have destroyed other nations, pointing to Sudan’s history of conflict based on religious and ethnic identity.

“This is how Sudan was destroyed,” Museveni remarked, explaining how attempts to suppress others based on identity led to the country’s eventual partition. “When people oppose what God has created, it is satanic. You must accept each other as you are—whether Muteso, Japadhola, or Kumam.”

The event, which ran from 9 to 13, September 2024, was organised by the President’s daughter, Pastor Patience Rwabwogo, under the theme “Reopening the Eastern Gate,” drawn from Ezekiel 44:3.

The convocation gathered believers from across five sub-regions of Greater Eastern Uganda, including Busoga, Bukedi, Elgon, Teso, and Karamoja.

Pastor Patience Rwabwogo led the spiritual gathering, encouraging attendees to seek transformation through prayer, repentance, and restoration. “God desires to see men happy, prosperous, and moving from one level of glory to another,” she said.

President Museveni, while emphasising the importance of faith, also linked spiritual growth to socio-economic transformation.

He reiterated government’s efforts to fight poverty through the four-acre model, urging locals to adopt smart farming practices.

“One acre for coffee, one acre for fruits, one acre for pasture, and one acre for food,” Museveni advised, adding that people should also engage in backyard poultry farming, piggery, and fish farming.

He cautioned against planting sugarcane on small plots of land, a common practice in Busoga, which he said is not as profitable as other enterprises.

The president commended Pastor Patience for her spiritual leadership and thanked her for fostering unity across diverse tribes.

First Lady Janet Museveni, also in attendance, encouraged believers to break down denominational barriers and unite under God.

“We are a nation under God, and His presence has been with us through the various challenges we have faced and overcome as a nation,” she said, urging the faithful to focus on God through Jesus Christ.

The convocation featured several prominent preachers, including Apostle Daniel Batambuze, Bishop Joshua Lwere, and Apostle Alex Mitala, who all shared messages of hope, unity, and transformation.

The First Lady also thanked Pastor Patience’s husband, Odrek Rwabwogo, and the entire Covenant Nations Church team for their work in promoting unity and spirituality across the region.