Museveni Hails Pastor Kayanja’s Ministry, Calls for African Unity and Prosperity at Big Fix Conference

President Yoweri Kaguta Museveni has commended Pastor Robert Kayanja for using his Christian ministry to promote production, self-reliance, community empowerment and social transformation, particularly through agricultural initiatives in Karamoja and Kiryandongo. President Museveni made the remarks on Saturday while presiding over the Big Fix Holy Spirit Global Conference at Miracle Centre Cathedral in Rubaga, Kampala.

The seven-day conference, hosted by Pastor Robert Kayanja and Pastor Jessica Kayanja through Robert Kayanja Ministries, began on September 21 and concludes on Sunday, September 27. It has brought together Christian leaders, ministers and visitors from Uganda, across Africa and other parts of the world for worship, fellowship, teaching and discussions on matters affecting communities and nations.

The President said he was especially encouraged by discussions at the conference on African integration and the political integration of East Africa, describing the message as consistent with the vision of a more united and prosperous continent. “I am very happy to hear Pastor Kayanja and other pastors talking about integration of Africa, political integration of East Africa. It is all music to my ears,” President Museveni said. He thanked Pastor Kayanja and Pastor Jessica for creating an international Christian network through which believers and leaders from different countries could share ideas, build relationships and strengthen fellowship. “I greet all of you, Kenyans, Tanzanians and our visitors from abroad. Pastor Kayanja and Pastor Jessica, thank you so much for this super networking, because you have brought a very rich network with whom we can share ideas,” he said.

Faith Expressed Through Service and Production President Museveni also praised Pastor Kayanja for translating faith into practical service, particularly through agricultural and community development initiatives. He highlighted the ministry’s work in Karamoja and Kiryandongo as examples of what he described as multiplying the talents entrusted to believers. “I am happy to be here and find Pastor Kayanja showing us what he has done in Karamoja, multiplying the talents, what he has done in Kiryandongo, multiplying his talents and inviting other Christians from different parts of the world,” the President said. In Karamoja, Pastor Kayanja’s ministry has been involved in agricultural interventions following periods of food insecurity, including the “Plough, Plant, Produce” initiative, which promotes mechanised farming and food production.

In Kiryandongo, the ministry’s Gold Meadow Farm has combined commercial agriculture with employment and skills development, with activities including livestock keeping and the cultivation of maize, bananas and other crops, supported by mechanised equipment and water infrastructure. The initiatives, the President noted, demonstrate how Christian service can extend beyond the pulpit into practical efforts aimed at improving livelihoods. From Faith to Prosperity Reflecting on his early involvement in Christian activities in the 1960s, President Museveni said his understanding of Christianity had also included the responsibility of believers to contribute to the development and prosperity of society. He linked this outlook to what he described as three longstanding missions of the National Resistance Movement: prosperity, strategic security and African integration. On economic prosperity, President Museveni urged Ugandans and Africans to focus on production and wealth creation rather than dependence on handouts. “You cannot achieve prosperity by begging. You need to produce a good or a service and sell it. That is how wealth is created,” he said.

He said Uganda's increasing production eventually demonstrated the importance of access to wider African markets. “When Uganda began to stabilise, we found ourselves stuck with surplus maize, milk, sugar and bananas. That’s when we said, ‘Have you heard of Africa?’ Because if Ugandans cannot buy what you produce, your neighbours can. And so came our second principle: Pan-Africanism,” he said. President Museveni also identified socio-economic transformation and democracy among the principles he said are important for national development. “You cannot modernise if you are only digging for the stomach. You must also work for the pocket,” he said. Coffee, Dairy and the African Market The President cited Uganda’s coffee and dairy sectors as examples of how increased production can contribute to household incomes and national economic growth. He said coffee production had grown from about three million bags to nine million bags, with Uganda targeting further expansion. “I mobilised our people and promoted coffee production, and that is how production moved from three million bags to now nine million bags. We are heading to 12 million and eventually 20 million bags,” he said.

On dairy production, President Museveni said Uganda had also recorded significant growth since 1986. “In 1986, Uganda was producing only 200 million litres annually. Today, production has increased to almost six billion litres annually,” he said. He argued that increasing production makes regional and continental markets increasingly important for African producers. The President recalled efforts by former Kenyan President Daniel arap Moi and former Tanzanian President Benjamin Mkapa to strengthen the East African Community and said the existing East African Common Market needed to function more effectively. He cautioned that excessive protectionist measures could negatively affect both producers and consumers. President Welcomes Call for African Integration President Museveni said he was therefore encouraged to hear Pastor Kayanja speak about African integration and the need for stronger economic and political cooperation among African countries. “When I came here and heard Pastor Kayanja talking about African integration, I said, ‘Praise the Lord,’ because we have already started the AfCFTA, the Continental Free Trade Area,” he said.

He said a stronger continental market would provide African producers with wider opportunities, while deeper political cooperation could contribute to the continent’s strategic security. President Museveni said East African countries should consider deeper cooperation in areas including defence, foreign policy, citizenship and the common market, while individual countries could continue managing sectors such as education and agriculture. He also called for greater global prosperity, arguing that economic growth in developing countries creates markets and opportunities for other economies. “I am for global affluence; let everybody produce what they can produce better and we trade. Instead of fighting, what we want is a win-win formula,” President Museveni said. Shs2 Billion Pledge to Pastors’ SACCO The President also welcomed the formation of a SACCO by pastors and pledged Shs2 billion to support the initiative. “Finally, I am glad the pastors have formed a SACCO. Now it’s true, I am going to put Shs2 billion,” he said.

Pastor Kayanja thanked President Museveni for attending the conference, saying the gathering demonstrated Uganda’s ability to welcome people from different parts of the world for worship, fellowship and exchange of ideas. He said participants had travelled from countries including the United States, China, Germany, Ukraine, India, Turkey, Australia, Zimbabwe, Kenya, Tanzania, Zambia, Ethiopia, Botswana, Nigeria, South Sudan, Burundi, Eritrea and Liberia, among others. “This is the testimony of your wise and announced leadership,” Pastor Kayanja told the President. He also thanked Uganda’s security forces for helping maintain an environment in which international visitors could gather for worship and fellowship. “Thank you, Mzee, for coming here to teach us your people,” Pastor Kayanja said. ‘The Big Fix’ and a Message of Hope Pastor Kayanja described the conference theme, “The Big Fix,” as a reflection of the Christian belief that God can restore individuals, families, communities and nations.

He also praised President Museveni’s leadership, pointing to developments in infrastructure and education, efforts against HIV/AIDS and the restoration of cultural institutions. Pastor Kayanja further announced plans for a Shs5 trillion milk project under the “Cow Bank Initiative,” which seeks to mobilise hundreds of Christians to engage in cattle keeping and contribute to large-scale milk production. The conference concluded with a strong message of faith, service, productivity, unity and hope, bringing together Christian leaders and believers from Uganda, Africa and beyond. At the close of the event, President Museveni launched three books, including Smile Karamoja: From Hunger to Hope and Harvest, which highlights the journey from food insecurity towards agricultural production and renewed hope in the Karamoja region.