Ntungamo Municipality Mayor, Mr. Jacob Kafureka, has ignited controversy by urging churches to refrain from blessing the poor, arguing that such practices discourage hard work.
Speaking during a thanksgiving mass at St. John Baptist Secondary School in Rukoko, Ntungamo Municipality, on Sunday, Kafureka criticized certain biblical messages and songs, particularly the phrase “I have come empty-handed before you (God),” which he believes dampens the spirit of hard work in communities.
“If you stop blessing them, they will go and work hard,” Kafureka asserted, suggesting that some individuals remain in poverty due to church teachings that keep them in a comfort zone, awaiting miracles instead of striving to improve their circumstances.
However, his remarks have sparked opposition from civil society activists. Francis Bintabara, a notable activist, disagreed with Kafureka’s perspective, attributing poverty to government policies rather than church teachings.
“People are partly poor because of bad government policies, not churches,” Bintabara countered. He further pointed out that many who do not attend church remain poor, indicating that it is not the churches but the policies that perpetuate poverty.
The discussion also touched on frustrations expressed by Mr. Godreb Bariyo, the head teacher of St. John Baptist Secondary School, who lamented the unfulfilled promises made by leaders, which have hindered the school’s plans for infrastructural development.
“Many leaders have made pledges to our school, but they’ve never been fulfilled. This has frustrated our plans for infrastructural development,” Bariyo said.
