PRESIDENT Yoweri Museveni has criticised Ugandans for persistently begging foreign donors to help them yet they have the capacity to raise the resources.
Museveni, who was officiating at a fundraising to re-roof Virika Cathedral in Fort Portal town on Sunday, said Ugandans should adopt the culture of okukombera (Runyankore word for marshalling support to fight an opponent) in developing their communities.
Over sh220m is required for roofing Virika Cathedral, one of the oldest churches in the country, built by the missionaries.
Museveni contributed sh10m and pledged to contribute more after the church leaders have raised the remaining funds from the faithful.
"If each of the fairly rich faithful can contribute sh300,000, you need only 700 people to raise the money (sh220m). It is easy to do this than disturbing our friends from outside," Museveni told the thousands of people who turned up for the function at Virika.
He paid an additional sh2m for the late Bishop Bwemu Magambo's and another sh2m for Toro King Oyo's portrait.
About sh40m was raised with Robina Bwita Duckworth, the proprietor Travellers Inn, Fort Portal, paying the highest for the President's portrait at sh6.6m.
The Kabarole district council chairman, Augustine Kayonga, said Bishop Magambo hid the NRA fighters at the cathedral during the 1981-85 struggle.
He said the bishop also negotiated the surrender of government forces under the late Okello Lutwa's regime, to the then NRA bush fighters in June 1984.
"Ugandans should avoid kukungura (calling for bad omen)...you have the wealth but you continue crying that you are poor," Museveni said.
National Political Commissar, Dr. Crispus Kiyonga bought a heifer at sh2m.
Now PLE is over, what next?