Rukiga County Member of Parliament-elect Patrick Kiconco Katabaazi has defended the leadership approach of Stephen Samuel Kaziimba Mugalu, Archbishop of the Church of Uganda, describing it as firmly grounded in biblical teaching rather than public confrontation.
In a statement posted on his official X (formerly Twitter) account on Tuesday, Katabaazi argued that the Archbishop’s message signals a return to foundational Christian principles.
“The cross was always the destination. Somewhere along the way the pulpit became the detour,” he wrote.
“The ones who should make us uncomfortable are those who position themselves between the believer and God—selling miracles and packaging faith as a transaction. Not like that ‘super pastor’; he is simply restoring the order that was always there. Take it to the Cross. Take it to God.”
Katabaazi’s remarks come amid a broader national conversation about the role of religious leaders in addressing governance and societal issues.
Speaking during the inauguration of Makerere Archdeaconry and the installation of its first Archdeacon, Ven. Rev. Canon Michael Mukhwana, at St John’s Church of Uganda, Makerere, Archbishop Kaziimba emphasized that his approach of quiet engagement is both deliberate and rooted in faith.
“I am a person. I need life also. I have a life to live. I am not here to be your saviour. I am not here to carry all your problems. You take them to the cross. I do my part and leave the rest to God,” he said.
The Archbishop argued that public confrontation is not always the most effective way to influence change, suggesting that measured, behind-the-scenes engagement can often yield more meaningful results.
“You can speak and speak and speak, no impact. John the Baptist did a good job, but he ended up losing his head. And the mission ended there,” he said.
He also referenced what he described as the “Nathan approach,” a biblical model that advocates engaging authority with humility and restraint rather than direct confrontation.
The Archbishop’s stance has drawn comparisons with Janani Luwum, the former Archbishop of the Church of Uganda who openly criticized the regime of Idi Amin and was later killed in 1977.
Luwum is widely regarded as a martyr, with some Ugandans calling on contemporary religious leaders to adopt a similarly outspoken stance on national issues.
However, Archbishop Kaziimba questioned whether martyrdom should be seen as the benchmark for effective leadership.
“The man was killed. So do you think I can make an impact by being killed? Don’t I have a family? Why don’t you really be sensitive?” he said.
The debate continues to highlight differing views on how religious leaders should engage with political authority in Uganda.
