The President of Uganda, Yoweri Museveni, has urged religious leaders and other government officials to stop ostracizing people who practice traditional medicine and indigenous religions.

Museveni expressed his disappointment that some church leaders often engage in confrontations with traditionalists without recognizing their potential contribution to the nation's development.

The President made these remarks on Sunday, June 9, during the National Heroes Day celebrations held in Gomba District.

"When I am in Kampala, I sometimes hear church leaders attacking traditional religions, which are very powerful in areas like these," Museveni said.

"However, it is these traditionalists who helped us in the wars that brought this government. The youths who were handling our guns came from homes with cultural backgrounds."

Instead of confronting traditional healers, Museveni said religious and government leaders should treat them as he did when commanding the NRA rebels in the 1980s.

Though he came from a religious family, Museveni said he worked closely with traditional healers and often followed their guidance throughout the bush war.

"I had to find ways to persuade and work with them without judging them, as I hear some groups do," he said.

"I simply encouraged them to perform their rituals while allowing us to carry out our duties. I clearly explained to them the tasks that required science, machine guns, and mortars. They could pray to their gods to help us while we operated those guns."

Museveni recounted one such healer named Mpiima, who would instruct them to wait for hours while he performed his spells on government soldiers, and they complied.

In one instance, he said, he was made to jump over a chicken carcass as part of a ritual.

However, Museveni stated that he also worked closely with religious groups.

For example, he recalled celebrating Christmas Day in 1982 at the Kasana Catholic Church and also praying with Anglican priests and duwas along with Imams.

"My advice to you religious leaders is to be patient and engage in dialogue rather than just commanding people," he said.

This year's National Heroes Day celebrations in Uganda were held under the theme; "Salute Our Heroes; A Secure Uganda is Now a Reality."

Watch his speech here starting from 2:12:13.

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