Politics 26 September 2026 State House (Uganda)
Museveni Endorses African Integration, Commends Pastor Kayanja's Development Initiatives
President Yoweri Museveni has lauded Pastor Robert Kayanja's work in community empowerment and agricultural development, while strongly advocating for enhanced African and East African integration. Source: https://statehouse.go.ug/president-museveni-hails-pastor-kayanjas-work-backs-african-integration-at-big-fix-conference
President Yoweri Kaguta Museveni has praised Pastor Robert Kayanja for his multifaceted approach to development, extending beyond spiritual guidance to practical initiatives in agriculture and community empowerment.
Speaking at the Big Fix Holy Spirit Global Conference, President Museveni expressed his delight at discussions focused on African integration and the political unification of East Africa. “It is all music to my ears,” he stated, recognizing the importance of such dialogue for the continent’s progress.
The President commended Pastor Kayanja and his wife, Jessica, for cultivating an international network that fosters idea exchange and relationship building. He specifically highlighted Pastor Kayanja’s “Plough, Plant, Produce” initiative in Karamoja, which shifted from emergency food relief to sustainable agricultural practices using mechanised farming. Similarly, the Gold Meadow Farm in Kiryandongo was noted for integrating commercial agriculture with job creation and skills development.
President Museveni connected these development efforts to his long-held belief in the responsibility of believers to improve society. He reiterated the National Resistance Movement’s guiding principles: prosperity through production, strategic security, and African integration. “You cannot achieve prosperity by begging. You need to produce a good or a service and sell it,” he emphasized.
The President pointed to Uganda’s success in sectors like coffee and dairy, where production has significantly increased, underscoring the necessity of larger regional and continental markets. He recalled past efforts with regional leaders to strengthen the East African Community and expressed optimism about the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA).
Further endorsing deeper integration, President Museveni suggested that East African nations should explore more unified approaches in defense, foreign policy, and citizenship, alongside the existing common market.
He also pledged Shs2 billion to support a newly formed SACCO for pastors, an initiative aimed at fostering economic collaboration within the religious community. Pastor Kayanja, in turn, thanked the President for his attendance and highlighted Uganda’s capacity to host international gatherings, attributing it to his “wise and announced leadership.”