By Wakibi Iddi
First Deputy Prime Minister Rt. Hon. Rebecca Alitwala Kadaga has urged Basoga living outside Busoga, particularly those in Kampala, to build homes in their ancestral villages, saying this would preserve their dignity and strengthen their connection to their roots.
Kadaga made the call while officiating as chief guest at the opening service of the 2026 Busoga Prayer Week at All Saints Cathedral, Nakasero.
The annual week, organised by the Busoga Consortium for Development, brings together Basoga to pray for the region’s leaders, unity, development and prosperity.
Kadaga said it was unfortunate that some people who own impressive properties in Kampala have no decent homes in their villages where their remains can be kept before burial.
“It is very painful that some people said to be rich with big buildings in Kampala, when they die, their bodies are put in tents in the village because they have nowhere to be placed. I urge you Basoga in the diaspora to go and build at home in the village,” Kadaga said.
The prayer week has also provided a platform for leaders to reflect on Busoga’s challenges and development priorities, with this year’s activities centred on strengthening unity and collective responsibility across the region.
The Assistant Bishop of Kampala, Rt Rev Jackson Balwa urged leaders across Busoga to put the welfare of their communities at the centre of their leadership.
“Leaders of Busoga at all levels should care for the people they lead because they are the ones to show the way to those they lead,” Bishop Balwa said.
Busoga Parliamentary Caucus Hon.Steven Kisa said the annual prayer week was intended to seek God’s guidance while praying for the region’s leadership and progress.
“We need to understand the value of prayer. Those who criticise this prayer need God’s grace. We are praying for our leaders, for development and for unity in Busoga,” Kisa said.
Kadaga also said Busoga leaders are pursuing practical priorities aimed at improving the region’s economic and social prospects. She identified tourism promotion, poverty reduction and completion of the Kimaka Airstrip in Jinja City among the key areas of focus.
“We as leaders of Busoga are focusing on promoting tourism, fighting poverty and completing the Kimaka airstrip in Jinja,” she said.
The prayer week is expected to climax in Mayuge on Sunday, with President Museveni expected to attend the closing ceremony.
For Busoga, the gathering goes beyond prayer. It offers an opportunity for leaders and communities to reflect on their responsibilities, preserve their ties to their ancestral homes and renew their commitment to building a more united and prosperous region. Rt. Hon. Kadaga’s message therefore places development not only in the hands of government, but also on the shoulders of Basoga themselves, wherever they live.