A section of religious leaders from Northern Uganda has challenged political and government leaders to address what they describe as persistent leadership gaps that continue to undermine the region’s development despite more than two decades of relative peace.
The concerns were raised on Friday during the fourth edition of the regional prayer breakfast for government and political leaders, convened by Favour of God Ministries in Gulu City. The prayer breakfast brought together political, cultural, religious, and government leaders to pray for the region and reflect on leadership ahead of the next five-year political term.
Delivering a keynote address, Lango Diocese Bishop Prof. Alfred Olwa said Northern Uganda has made significant strides since the end of the Lord’s Resistance Army (LRA) insurgency, but has failed to register the level of socio-economic transformation witnessed in other parts of the country.He said that although the region has benefited from improved infrastructure, schools, health facilities, telecommunications, and expanding economic activity, it continues to lag in key development indicators due to weak leadership.
Bishop Olwa also identified the integrity gap as one of the biggest leadership challenges facing the region, saying many citizens have lost confidence in leaders because campaign promises are regularly made but rarely fulfilled. He urged leaders to embrace righteousness, trustworthiness, integrity, accountability and the fear of God as the foundation for transformative leadership capable of accelerating Northern Uganda’s development.
The cleric challenged leaders in the sub-region to focus less on who occupies leadership positions and more on the kind of leadership they offer as they embark on the next five-year term in office. The Northern Uganda Diocese Bishop, Rev. Godfrey Loum, however, echoed the call for ethical leadership, praying that God would raise leaders who govern with integrity, accountability, and the fear of God.
Bishop Loum prayed for an end to corruption, saying public resources should be used for their intended purpose to lift Northern Uganda out of poverty. “We pray that corruption will diminish, that the resources you have made available for the prosperity of your people will be put to the right uses, and that the people of Northern Uganda will rise out of poverty,” he said.
He further urged leaders to make decisions guided by the fear of God, saying righteous leadership would bring prosperity, peace, and joy to communities. Responding to the clergy’s message, the State Minister for Northern Uganda Rehabilitation, Beatrice Akori, urged elected leaders to ensure that every policy, budget, and decision they make during their tenure directly improves the lives of the people they serve.
Akori said leadership should be measured by its impact on ordinary citizens, noting that public office comes with the responsibility to deliver meaningful socio-economic transformation. She also called for reconciliation among politicians, saying the election period had ended, and leaders should put aside political differences and work together for the common good of the region.
Miriam Ogena, the Favour of God Ministries Administrator, said in an interview that the purpose of the prayer breakfast was to enable leaders to align themselves with the purpose of prayers for community transformation. “We believe that through this prayer breakfast… God has heard our prayers, and God will work through them in the different communities where they are leading; there shall be peace because God is the one divinely leading them,” she said. She said they believe that spiritually transforming the leaders will have a multiplier effect and a direct impact on the people they lead-URN. Give us feedback on this story through our email: kamwokyatimes@gmail.com
