HERITAGE EVENT ATTRACTS THOUSANDS TO CATHEDRAL

 Girl Power’s Chief Executive Officer/Patron/Chairperson, Pastor Jessica Kayanja, hosted the hugely successful Heritage event at the Miracle Centre Cathedral on Sunday December 14, 2008.

At least 20,000(or Thousands of) people were in attendance on this day-long event.

President Yoweri Museveni hailed the organizers of the event, which attracted at least 13 heads of Uganda’s traditional leaders, including child king Oyo Nyimba Kabamba Iguru of Toro.

Buganda was represented by Queen Sylvia Nagginda.

This, so much a unifying event was in agreement with the President’s remark (who praised Girl Power/Miracle Centre Cathedral/Pastor Robert and Jessica Kayanja for organizing it), saying Uganda needs to regularly update its cultures, saying not all that was inherited from the forefathers was negative.

“We need to emphasize our commonalities,” President Museveni told the thousands of people who gathered inside the cathedral.

“The commonalities will help us move forward, not our differences,” he added.

The traditional leaders arriving in style were accompanied by delegations as dancers offered traditional renditions. This day saw many adorned in traditional attire which spiced up the ceremony. . Colour was emphasized

Both Pastor Jessica and Robert Kayanja hand in hand, led the guests on arrival to a large tent where huts from the past were built to show just how life was in Africa about 500 years ago.

Inside the tent the kings, chiefs and other traditional leaders smiled as they were led through familiar surroundings – the very type of heritage they are trying to preserve.

“Positive culture promotes positive development’” said one leader as he was led through the huts.

“When you promote what is good you are sure you will be there to enjoy the benefits tomorrow,” he added.()

The message was in rhyme with what the President was to say later in the church, where worshippers led the masses into tuneful songs to praise God.

The Miracle Centre Cathedral boasts of 1,200 follower churches – the largest number nationally and beyond the region.

This ministry, founded by Pastor Robert Kayanja 24 years ago, is one of Africa’s largest. The 10,500-seater cathedral, valued at over $7 million, is also one of Africa’s largest.

Pastor Kayanja said in remarks an evangelism effort next year would cost $3 million dollars to “try and take the healing gospel to the lost souls of Africa.”

Much of that money would come from donations. Previously, most support has come from the pastor himself. The church has often come in to support such ventures, including mass crusades in countries such as Rwanda, Kenya and Burundi, where television footage shows healing miracles with cripples jumping out of wheelchairs just as dumb people begin to speak, some for the first time in years or ever.

Pastor Jessica Kayanja said an event of a similar magnitude would be arranged each year, but did not say exactly on what theme. She launched a book called “Heritage” as a reminder for the event, which had the tag-line “A Celebration of Diversity”.

Foods from the different tribal groupings as well as from neighboring countries such as Kenya, Rwanda, Burundi and the Democratic Republic of Congo were on display. Later diners came together in a fellowship meal as the event wound up deep in the evening.

President Museveni launched the book. It is now available in leading bookstores countrywide. He won an award by Girl Power, the organizers of the event, in recognition of his allowing tribal leaders to rule in their territories. His support for women empowerment causes was also cited as a merit.

Uganda’s traditional leaders were once banned by a previous regime.  President Museveni restored them in 1993 after lobbies said the kings would restrict themselves to mobilizing their people to development, rather than engaging the central government in fights over politics.

The largest is Buganda with over 6 million people. Queen Nagginda was the other person handed a trophy to award her selfless supporting the protection and empowerment of the girl child.