Kampala, Uganda | By Michael Wandati | Religious leaders across the country have urged their followers to use this year’s Christmas as a time to refrain from behaviors deemed antichrist.
In their Christmas messages, leaders highlight concerns that despite Uganda being a religious country, many actions contradict this identity.
The Catholic Archbishop of Kampala Archdiocese, Paul Ssemogerere said the injustices and the lack of regard and compassion for others have become the norm across the country.
He called upon the Christians to be inspired by the example of Christ and extend their love beyond their families and friends to encompass all those whom they encounter in their life journeys.
He said people should realize that they are all equal before God regardless of their social positions. He said the corruption taking place in public offices, the breakdown of the rule of law, and the disregard for children, women, and the weak must all end with the birth of Jesus.
Ssemogerere also called for the end of wars in Palestine, the birthplace of Jesus Christ. He said these wars show a lack of regard for the lives of children and other vulnerable.
Ever since October 7, when Hamas a Palestine-based organization attacked Israel leading to the death of about 1,200 people, Israel has killed over 20,000 people in a retaliatory bombing campaign that it has refused to end despite the world solidly calling for a ceasefire.
At All Saints Cathedral, Nakasero the Archbishop of the Church of Uganda, Stephen Samuel Kaziimba Mugalu expressed concern over what he called Christians displacing Jesus Christ from the center of their Christmas celebrations.
Kazimba said that instead of marking the birth of Jesus Christ, reflecting on their faith, and praising, many people are addicted to alcohol, committing crimes, sins, and many other unGodly acts that do not reflect the genuine spirit of Christmas.
He referred to the recent media reports indicating that the Uganda Aids Commission (UAC) supplied 30 million condoms during the festive season to different hotspots across the country where risky sexual activity happens, adding such acts do not acknowledge the King of Kings, and whoever commits them has not surrendered to the Lord.
At the House of Prayer Ministry in Makerere Kikoni, the lead Pastor, Aloysius Bujingo applauded the three arms of the government for standing up and passing the Anti-Homosexual Act.
According to Bujingo, despite repeated warnings of financial penalties and other pressures from Western powers, both the Speaker of the Parliament Anita Among and President Yoweri Museveni persisted in their boldness and approved the bill that is now law.
In Kabale district, the Rt. Rev. Gaddie Akanjuna, Bishop of the Diocese of Kigezi condemned the high rates of murders in Uganda.
In his sermon to Christians at St. Peter’s Cathedral Rugama in Kabale District, Akanjuna wondered how a person decides to end someone else’s life without regard.
Akanjuna also expressed concern over the high levels of alcoholism among Christians. He said that such cases give Uganda a very bad image. He said that Christians should know that alcoholism creates high levels of poverty, murders, adultery, and health impairment among other evil results.
For his part, Aloysios Kiiza, the Bishop of Liftup Jesus Church Ministries in Kigezi region also criticized the high cases of murder in the country, saying they reflect badly on a religious country.
Preaching during Christmas celebrations at Liftup Jesus Church Ministries main Church in Rushambya, Kirigime ward, Southern Division, Kabale district, Kiiza said that some killings result from land wrangles as if Christians have forgotten that nobody will be buried with the same land.
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He also condemned the high levels of corruption in Uganda especially in the civil service, saying that it is retarding development. He urged that people should use this Christmas and New Year to reform.
In Kapchorwa district, the Anglican Bishop of Sebei Diocese, Paul Masaba Kiptoo asked Christians to cherish peace and unity as a way of curbing conflicts among themselves and also living exemplary lifestyles in the community.
While presiding over the Christmas service at St. Peters Cathedral in Kapchorwa, the Bishop challenged the Christians to have an obligation to mentor and nurture society in understanding the significance of peace and unity.
“Apostle Paul reminds us about our role in championing peace and unity, we should be agents and mouthpieces of the same message to our communities,” Bishop Kiptoo said.
