Minister Amongi urges Christians to Work towards Church Development

Minister Amongi urges Christians to Work towards Church Development.

By Caesar Okello

The Minister for Gender, Labor and Social Development, Hon. Betty Amongi Akena has expressed great concern over the alarming levels of arrests being conducted on Lira city Residents.

Minister Amongi who is also the area Member of Parliament for Oyam South made the statement on Sunday 10th December 2023 as the Guest of Honor at a fundraising event at Bethel Yahweh Pentecostal Church located at Starch Factory, Lira City West Division.

According to her, the levels at which people are being arrested in Lira city is leaving her and other leaders concerned.

The Minister says that Lango should emulate from other tribes in giving support to their children while in trouble by coming together and speaking one language.

Citing one example, Amongi says when former IGP Gen. Kale Kayihura was arrested and charged with terrorism, his tribe came together and requested the President to pardon their son which later the head of state responded to.

She further cited another example on former Health Minister Capt. Mike Mukula who was also pardoned after he was charged with a case of misappropriating Gavi Funds.

However for Lango sub region, Amongi says it is not the same case but rather some leaders want their own people to rot in prison in the names of protecting their land yet cultural leaders, church and political leaders can come together and do their best to iron the impasse.

It is upon this that Amongi said President Yoweri Kaguta Museveni is considering Alternative Dispute Resolutions (ADR) approach in handling the ongoing conflicts between PAG and Yahweh Pentecostal Church over properties.

“If Mediation fails to yield good fruits, Minister Amongi said the two warring parties may be forced to go back to Court to start hearing the case afresh”, said Amongi.

Amongi also offered 10 million shillings cash to help in the construction of Ngetta Ginery Yahweh Pentacostol Church and 100 bags of cement for the Construction of accommodation for the Priest at St. Philips Neri Erute Sub Parish as she appealed to the congregation to work hard if helping churches is to be easy.

The National Resistance Movement Finance Secretary for Lira City and District, Geoffrey Etwop told members of the congratulations that ever since he started praying at Bethel Yahweh Pentacostol Church in 1995, minister Amongi is the first minister to step foot into the church.

According to Etwop, Lira City alone has a total population of over 20,000 Yahweh believers, a number he says is enough to make Minister Betty Amongi sail through as Woman Member of Parliament for Lira City in the forth coming 2026 General Election for Woman MP Lira City.

On the other hand, Hon. Vincent Obong Eyit, MP Lira City West Division who also attended the fundraising event said Yahweh Christians are not shaken by the ongoing wave surrounding PAG and Yahweh, urging Christians to instead stay firm and serve God wholeheartedly.

“Hon. Amongi and I are a gift to Lira City and Amongi is among the few leaders in Lango who stands with her people”, Obong Eyit added.

He pledged to give 3m to the women groups at Bethel Yahweh Pentecostal Church to help them do smaller income generating activities.