By Kenneth Wamatoyi
JINJA
The Busoga Consortium for Development (BCD), along with political leaders and the clergy, have officially launched the 2024 Busoga Prayer Week, dedicated to praying, fasting, and seeking divine intervention for the region’s challenges.
This third edition of the prayer week aims to foster greater unity and collaboration among the political, social, religious, and economic leaders of the Busoga subregion. The event will take place from October 14–20, 2024, with the main gathering being organized at Kiyunga Playground in Luuka District.
Under the theme “Deepening Regional Cohesion as a Foundation for Sustainable Household Transformation,” the initiative is part of BCD’s campaign to build economically harmonious and prosperous households in Busoga through the Village Development Model (VAM). This framework supports the implementation of the 10-year Busoga Development Agenda.
Presiding over the launch at Civil Service College in Jinja on Wednesday, October 2, 2024, Presidency Minister, Milly Babirye Babalanda said the prayers would involve all religious denominations under the Inter-Religious Council. These include Anglican, Catholic, Muslim, Orthodox, Seventh-day Adventist (SDA), and Born Again faiths, each leading prayers on a designated day.
In her speech, delivered by Luuka South lawmaker Hon. Stephen Kisa, Babalanda emphasized: “Through prayers and hard work, we have made great strides in reconciling with each other and committing to work together as leaders and people of Busoga, leading to the socio-economic transformation of our region.”
Minister Babalanda highlighted the sense of togetherness demonstrated last year during the Royal Wedding (Embaga ya Mwenemu), where leaders collaborated to ensure the success of the memorable event.
“We have witnessed significant improvements in the performance of our schools at all levels,” she added.
BCD’s Director General, Mr. Anthony Mula, explained that the prayer week would unite Busoga with vital stakeholders to discuss and implement the Busoga Development Agenda, which aims to foster the development of the Kyabazinga’s land.
The development plan laid out by the BCD includes ten strategic pillars, aimed at guiding Busoga’s transformation to greatness. These include the commercialization of agriculture, improvements in health and education, urban development, and mineral development, among others.
Mula stated, “Since the introduction of the prayer week in 2022, Busoga has seen improvements in health and education. We have also made significant progress in Obwakyabazinga bwa Busoga and urbanization.”
Reverend Frederick Noah Kifuse of St. James Church, Jinja, representing Bishop Nayimane Mukembo, Chairperson of Busoga Interreligious Council, emphasized that cohesion leads to development. Citing 1 Corinthians 1:10, Rev. Kifuse noted, “God desires unity.” He added that development can be achieved through prayer and fasting. Rev. Kifuse urged leaders to utilize their capacities effectively to Groom the next Busoga generation, Plan for sustainable development, Harness Busoga’s potential as the fastest-developing economy
