Poverty in Ugandan families is by choice - bishop

The Bishop of Kinkiizi Diocese, the Rt Rev Dan Zoreka, has attributed poverty in many families in Uganda to laziness.
The prelate said Ugandans, especially in rural areas, do not work hard to attain prosperity.
Bishop Zoreka made the remarks on Sunday while preaching at the thanksgiving ceremony of Rtd Bishop of Kigezi Diocese, the Rt Rev William Rukirande, 87, that was held at Rubira Church of Uganda in Kabale District.
“Being born poor is not your problem but dying [poor] is by choice. God created you to use your hands and brains to work hard and become prosperous. The attitude of many people in rural areas opting [to sit] in bars the whole day without doing activities that generate income annoys God that created them. You remember Jesus Christ in the Bible said the trees that do not bear fruits should be cut down. As church and local leaders we must always encourage our people to work hard to attain prosperity,” Bishop Zoreka said.
He added that if he had not worked hard and paid for school fees for his primary school education in the early 1970s, he would not have attained the prestige he holds today as a bishop in Kanungu District.
Bishop Zoreka appealed to leaders in Uganda to always demonstrate honesty and integrity if they are to eradicate corruption from the country.

Gratitude
Bishop Rukirande thanked God for keeping him alive for the 87 years spent on earth and prayed to attain 120 years with good sight and energy to continue reading the holy Bible and preaching the word of God.
The State minister for Finance in-charge of Planning, Mr David Bahati, who was the chief guest at the function, emphasised hard work as the way to deliver prosperity in Uganda.
“After losing all my parents at the age of 3, I worked hard by selling cigarettes, yellow bananas and carrying people’s luggage in Kabale Town to raise the required school fees for my secondary education until Church of Uganda sponsored my high school education. Do not despise jobs,” Mr Bahati said.

Funding groups
He revealed that government plans to empower youth and women groups for prosperity, adding that about Shs130b has been allocated in the 2019/2020 national budget to stir-up development.
Mr Bahati was accompanied at the function by the Kabale District Woman Member of Parliament, Ms Catherine Ndamira, and the Rubanda East Member of Parliament, Mr Henry Musasazi.