The Archbishop of the Church of Uganda, Stephen Samuel Kaziimba Mugalu, has urged diocesan development officers to uphold integrity, avoid partisan politics, and strategically position themselves for effective service in their communities.
He made the remarks while opening a four-day capacity building workshop for Household and Community Transformation (HCT) Coordinators at Lweza Training and Conference Centre.
The HCT Directorate is the Church of Uganda's social-economic development arm.
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Archbishop Kaziimba reminded participants that integrity was "a priceless virtue," stressing that their calling as servants of God "is way above any political office."
"If anyone wishes to engage politically, they must first resign from Church positions. As servants of the Kingdom, you are called to preach peace and unity. Remember, any statement you make is taken as the position of the Church of Uganda," he said.
He also encouraged officers to promote environmental conservation through tree planting, invest in continuous learning, maintain healthy lifestyles, and file timely reports to strengthen community transformation programs.
The training attracted international partners including Kurt Dillinger, President of Life International, who reaffirmed the organisation's commitment to protecting families and the sanctity of life.
"We are against abortion because it does not value God's creation," Dillinger said, noting that Life International has a five-year partnership with the Church of Uganda to train leaders across the country.
Chuck Bentley, President of Crown Ministries International, criticised global population reduction campaigns, calling instead for responsible stewardship.
"There is no problem with a large population... real focus should be on realising human potential and practicing responsible stewardship," he noted.
The four-day workshop will address themes such as youth skilling, food security, gender justice, women's empowerment, and environmental conservation.
Participants will also make a field visit to the National Agricultural Research Organisation (NARO) for training in fish farming.
Rev. Andrew Agaba, Director of the HCT Directorate, said the program is timely in enhancing productivity of coordinators across dioceses.
He noted it aims to tackle poverty, strengthen households, and promote Kingdom values throughout Uganda.
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