The Vice President Jessica Alupo has said the religious institutions have proved to be reliable development partners in provision of social services like education, health services fight against poverty at the grassroots.
Alupo said religious institutions been instrumental in the moulding of society and provision of moral guidance to ensure social stability and economic empowerment.
The Vice President was speaking at a fundraising event for the construction of a multi-purpose classroom block for Merryland High School, run by the Church of Uganda in Kibaale district.
She requested religious institutions to continue discharging the education, health care, fight against poverty in partnership with government.
“You are our valued partners, always with the people and those are the very people who government delivers services to,” Alupo said.
She also requested local leaders to work closely with the church by sharing policies of government with religious leaders adding that whenever there is an opportunity such messages can be articulated to the flocks by religious leaders.
“We all know the value of education, so I most sincerely thank all of you for coming to support the drive” she said, while emphasizing the value of education as a very important tool that we can use to transform ourselves and society.
Alupo further assured the people that money for Parish Development Model had been availed and asked district chairpersons to ensure money is dispensed to Sacco accounts through their parish chiefs.
The Minister of Finance, Planning and Economic Development who is also area MP, Matia Kasaijja said they were in the district to finish what they started and contributed shs70m towards the construction of the multi-purpose classroom blocks and urged parents to educate their children without discrimination.
Earlier-on during the church sermon, Bishop Samuel Kahuma of Bunyoro Kitara Diocese, Church of Uganda, who doubled as host of the fundraising ceremony, rallied the people for greater development and called upon the faithfuls to continue the cycle of giving which was started by forefathers.
Over Sh200m was raised during the fundraising ceremony.
Her Excellency Alupo contributed sh30m towards the cause.
Merry Land High School was founded in 2017 after His Excellency General Yoweri Museveni visited Nyamarunda primary, a church founded school with an enrollment of 1062 learners then and another 1084 learners at Kibeedi Primary school.
The school’s head teacher Amos Tukwasiibwe informed the gathering that the school has an approved development plan for a boarding mixed secondary school with dormitories, laboratory, kitchen, staff quarters an an enclosed perimeter wall.