Legislators have been urged to be servant leaders and work towards the progress and development of their electorate.

The call was made by Msgr John Wynand Katende, who led a High Mass at Parliament on Thursday, 13 July 2023, in celebration of St. Thomas More and St. Joseph Mukasa Balikuddembe.

St. Thomas More is the patron saint of politicians and civil servants while Balikuddembe was the first Ugandan Catholic martyr.

Katende preached that prosperity, power and prestige come with responsibility, adding that society yearns for leaders who have a desire to serve.

“Leadership is less about position and more about disposition. Servant leaders work tirelessly work to ensure that those they lead will thrive,” said Katende.

He alluded to the book of Esther in the Bible which teaches about a woman who was a servant leader that put the needs of her people before hers, as well as the Gospel of Mathew (16:24) which teaches that servant leadership is a sacrifice.

“If we want to serve with nobility, we have to pray a lot. We must read the Bible and other church documents, and also receive the sacrament of the Eucharist,” Katende added.

The Speaker, Anita Among, reiterated the commitment of legislators of the 11th Parliament to be servant leaders and ensure a people-centred institution.

“We are here as sacrificial lambs and we shall do all that is noble for the electorate and do what is pleasing to the Lord. You will never get people in our Parliament sabotaging each other,” said Among.

She acknowledged the Church for supporting Parliament to pass the Anti-Homosexuality Bill and said the House will now embark on considering and passing the Narcotics Bill, to protect the nation’s youth.

“Narcotics are as bad as homosexuality. It is narcotics that are spoiling our children. We need your prayers and by God’s grace we shall get the work done,” Among said.

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Parliament of Uganda Media