JINJA, Uganda — Vice President Jessica Alupo on Sunday officially handed over a brand-new sport utility vehicle (SUV) to the Bishop of Busoga Diocese, Rt. Rev. Prof. Dr. Grace Lubaale, fulfilling a pledge made by President Yoweri Kaguta Museveni to support the bishop’s pastoral work across the diocese.
The vehicle was delivered several months after Bishop Lubaale’s consecration and enthronement as the fifth bishop of Busoga Diocese, an event that took place in December last year.
Speaking during the handover ceremony, Vice President Alupo said the gift underscores the government’s continued partnership with religious institutions in promoting social transformation, community development, and national unity.
She explained that the delivery of the vehicle had been delayed due to electoral regulations that restricted the distribution of government donations and gifts during the election period.
“The President made this commitment to facilitate the bishop’s pastoral and community work. The delay in delivering the vehicle was occasioned by election-related restrictions, but today we are pleased to fulfill that pledge,” Alupo said.
The Vice President commended the Church for its role in shaping values, promoting peace, and complementing government efforts in education, health, and poverty eradication.
Receiving the vehicle, Bishop Lubaale expressed gratitude to President Museveni and the government, saying the SUV would greatly enhance his ability to serve Christians across the vast diocese, which covers 11 districts in the Busoga sub-region.
“This vehicle is not for my personal comfort. It will help me reach remote communities, visit the sick, minister to our people, and effectively carry out the mission of the Church,” Bishop Lubaale said.
He noted that the diocese faces logistical challenges in reaching some rural areas and that reliable transport is critical for pastoral outreach and community engagement programmes.
The handover has attracted public attention because Bishop Lubaale has, on several occasions, spoken out on national issues, including governance, poverty, corruption, and the detention of political actors. His outspoken positions have earned him praise from some sections of the public while drawing criticism from others.
However, government officials have maintained that providing vehicles to newly consecrated bishops and heads of major religious institutions is a long-standing policy intended to facilitate their work and is not influenced by their political views or public statements.
Supporters of the initiative argue that religious leaders play a crucial role in community mobilization and social development, particularly in rural areas where churches often complement government service delivery efforts.
Busoga Diocese, one of the largest dioceses in the Church of Uganda, serves hundreds of thousands of Christians across the region and runs numerous schools, health facilities, and community development programmes.
The vehicle is expected to strengthen the bishop’s mobility and support his efforts to reach congregations and communities throughout the diocese’s expansive jurisdiction.