Former Foreign Affairs Minister Sam Kutesa is under fire online after commissioning a newly built church in Sembabule, his home district.
Ugandans on social media are questioning his choice to fund a place of worship over what they believe would have been a more pressing and practical need—a hospital or cancer screening center.
President Museveni attended the church’s launch, a move that further amplified national attention.
“I Survived Cancer—So I Built a Church”
Sam Kutesa – In November 2022, I was diagnosed with throat cancer. I spent six months in Germany undergoing chemotherapy & radiotherapy, by God’s grace, I recovered. After surviving that difficult experience, I made a promise to build a church for God in His honor. pic.twitter.com/ZvoZIJqcnU
— UBC UGANDA (@ubctvuganda) April 27, 2025
Kutesa, speaking during the commissioning, revealed that the church was a personal vow he made during a life-threatening health scare in late 2022.
He recounted spending six months in Germany, bedridden and undergoing chemotherapy and radiotherapy for throat cancer.
“By God’s grace, I recovered. I promised God that if I survived, I would build Him a church,” Kutesa shared with the congregation.
But many Ugandans have been less than impressed. The response online has been swift, biting, and deeply reflective of long-standing frustrations with how the country’s wealthy and powerful allocate their wealth.
“He Was Treated in Germany—We Need Hospitals Here”
One X user, Shafi Adams, posted, “Sam Kutesa was treated in the best hospitals of Germany, but after survival he built a church to empower his people back home in Uganda instead of a hospital…”
Another user, Alex Kakande, added, “It’s rumoured that Sam Kutesa is one of the richest men in Uganda. Why can’t these people think value? How many cancer patients will be healed by this church?”
The criticism didn’t stop there. Others cited the example of British tourist Samuel Leeds, who after surviving a deadly boat accident in Uganda, returned to fund a hospital ward in Jinja worth Shs2 billion.
His gesture, seen as genuinely people-centered, drew sharp contrast to Kutesa’s spiritual monument.
A Legacy Questioned
Kutesa has long been a towering figure in Ugandan politics, serving for decades under the ruling National Resistance Movement. He’s also the father-in-law of Gen. Muhoozi Kainerugaba, son of President Museveni.
Yet, his public image remains dogged by allegations of corruption and perceived elitism.
For many, this latest move only reinforces concerns about how Uganda’s elite view service to their communities—often favoring symbols over solutions.
Social Priorities Under Scrutiny
The outrage highlights a broader conversation in Uganda: What should public figures with wealth and influence prioritize?
With limited access to quality healthcare, especially cancer screening and treatment, many believe building a medical facility would have been a more meaningful legacy.
While Kutesa’s personal faith and survival story resonate with some, critics insist that spiritual gratitude must be balanced with the country’s overwhelming health needs.
As one user put it bluntly, “We don’t pray cancer away. We treat it.”
