Published on 01/05/2025
Last week, the family of former Foreign Affairs Minister Sam Kutesa unveiled a monumental project, the newly constructed All Saints Church, a towering symbol of faith and gratitude in Sembabule District.
Commissioned by President Museveni, the elegant church built entirely with private funds—stands as a powerful testament to Sam Kutesa’s personal promised to God after surviving a life-threatening battle with throat cancer.
Yet, while the initiative has been celebrated by many within the Anglican community, it has also sparked sharp debate across the country about public priorities and the role of leaders in national development.
Kutesa, now 76, revealed during the church’s dedication ceremony that he had secretly battled throat cancer in 2022. He was urgently flown to Germany, where he received chemotherapy and radiotherapy. In his emotional remarks, he said that in the darkest moments of his illness, he vowed to build a house of worship if granted healing.
“God gave me another chance, and I kept my word. This church is a symbol of thanksgiving, and a place where generations will gather to glorify Him.” Kutesa said.
The construction of All Saints Church has drawn praise from local clergy and believers, who view it as a meaningful contribution to the spiritual and moral fabric of the community in Sembabule.
During the commissioning, several leaders including President Museveni lauded the Kutesa family for setting an example of generosity and faith, saying the church would serve not just as a place of worship, but also as a centre for hope, healing, and unity in Sembabule.
”I thank Hon. Sam Kutesa for connecting with partners who quickly built the church, and I also pay tribute to the pioneers who preached the gospel and transformed society. I extend my gratitude to Mr. Manish and his family, as well as their business, Tororo Cement, for building churches across Uganda, despite not being Christians. Their actions align with Jesus’ teaching that “we shall know them by their fruits.” President Museveni said.
”There is a growing synergy between the Church and government, both promoting work, wealth creation, and unity. I therefore, encourage the believers to continue preaching the gospel of unity, feeding the hungry, healing the sick, and working hard” he added.
However, not all reactions have been positive, a heated online debate erupted following the event, with critics questioning why Kutesa, a man of immense influence and wealth, chose to build a church instead of a hospital.
Many pointed to the pressing healthcare challenges in Uganda, especially the underfunding of public hospitals, as a more urgent need.
Despite the criticism, Kutesa and his supporters remain unmoved as family members and community leaders argue that the decision to build a church was deeply personal and spiritually motivated.
“It’s unfair to politicize a man’s covenant with God,” said a close family friend.
“Mr. Kutesa has contributed to many causes, but this church was about honouring a promise made in pain and humility. His family has supported the community with several projects including health outreach programs, scholarships, youth empowerment initiatives in the district among others but all these out of the spot light” he added.
Supporters also note that Kutesa’s contribution to public life stretches far beyond the church construction.
“To reduce his legacy to the construction of this one church is unfair. This is a man who has served the country for decades and this church is simply how he chose to say thank you to God and his people of Sembabule but politicians who are also very capable by way chose to criticise this. ”said a resident of Sembabule.
” In Uganda there is still space for personal conviction in acts of giving. While hospitals, schools and other infrastructures remain critical, faith also remains a central pillar for many communities and to Kutesa, honouring his promise to God was paramount and it had nothing to do with what the public wants” he added.
On the side-lines of the church commissioning, President Museveni while addressing a public rally in Sembabule Town, commended Hon. Shartsi Musherure, Kutesa’s daughter and Member of Parliament for Mawogola North, for her strong leadership in promoting wealth creation in the region.
”I’m pleased to hear that Hon. Shartsi has been advocating for the effective use of both small and large land for profitable farming. I encourage all other leaders to follow her example and educate the people they represent on how to utilize their land efficiently”the President said.
”As I flew over Sembabule and other parts of Masaka, I observed numerous coffee and banana farms, as well as many cattle farms. This indicates significant improvement in agricultural practices. However, we need to implement irrigation systems to prevent disruptions during the dry seasons” he added.
