Mr Immanuel Ben Misagga is a football investor and businessman.
The Catholic Church in Uganda has played a significant role in shaping society—spiritually, socially, and economically.
From building schools, hospitals, and churches to spearheading various development initiatives, the Church relies heavily on the unwavering support of its congregants. However, one crucial area seems to be overlooked: economic empowerment of its own faithful through fair access to contracts for construction and other services.
As a practicing Catholic and a contractor, I have observed, with deep concern, that when it comes to awarding contracts for Church infrastructure projects, Catholic-run businesses often find themselves sidelined.
Despite the fact that Catholic congregants contribute tithe, enrol their children in Catholic-founded schools, and actively support development projects—such as school dormitories, hospitals, and conference halls—the Church establishment does not always reciprocate by prioritising Catholic professionals and businesspeople for such contracts.
Back in the 1960s, when construction of the Basilica of the Uganda Martyrs at Namugongo was mooted, Cardinal Emmanuel Nsubuga, who at the time was the Archbishop of Kampala, went out of his way to give a Catholic-founded contractor its first ever project in Uganda. Today, you only have to look at the recent huge Catholic establishment projects to see this predicament, which has made many of my friends uneasy. For example, despite Christ the King Church's cultural and spiritual significance to Kampala's Catholic community, officials recently awarded a renovation contract to a Hindu company. The same is true for the St Charles Lwanga Ntinda Parish Infrastructure Project. I may also include projects for Rubaga and Nsambya hospital extensions, as well as Nsambya Girls SS. This is neither a call to exclusion nor is it intended to belittle the professionalism of non-Catholics. It is more of an appeal for inclusivity.
If the Catholic faithful are the primary source of money for the Church's expansion, it is only right that they benefit financially from job and business opportunities within Church-owned ventures. Encouragement of Catholic professions and enterprises builds community, encourages loyalty, and creates a sustainable environment in which the faithful feel appreciated beyond their spiritual commitment.
Unfortunately, my personal experiences have demonstrated a stark contrast in other religious institutions. One time, my company won a contract to renovate and remodel Avondale SDA Church in Lusaka, Zambia. Everything was progressing well until it was discovered that I was a Catholic. The bishop intervened and ordered my company to stop the work immediately, insisting that the project should only be completed by 'their own.'
Similarly, in Entebbe, I secured a construction project for an Anglican church, but midway through the work, I realised my employers felt uneasy about my Catholic faith. They eventually forced me out of the project, citing concerns that certain sacred and symbolic relics—of great spiritual significance—could not be handled by a non-faithful.
While I respect the religious sentiments of these institutions, it raises an important question: If others can prioritise their own for economic opportunities, why doesn’t the Catholic Church extend similar consideration to its own?
The Church has long emphasised social justice and community empowerment. It is, therefore, only fitting that Catholic institutions take deliberate steps to support businesses run by Catholics. This does not mean excluding non-Catholics but rather ensuring that faithful members who contribute immensely to the Church’s growth also benefit from its economic opportunities.
The Catholic Church in Uganda must reflect on this issue and create an environment where Catholic professionals, businesspeople, and contractors are actively supported. By doing so, the Church not only strengthens its economic base but also builds a stronger, more self-reliant Catholic community.
The writer is an infrastructure
construction specialist
