At the joint Good Friday commemoration joint prayers held at Old Kampala SS playground, organized by the Uganda Joint Christian Council, Archbishop Stephen Kaziimba Mugalu made a notable appeal rooted in Christian tradition.
Addressing the congregation attending by distinguished government officials, religious leaders and members of the public including the Vice President Jessica Alupo, the Archbishop said:
“Your Excellency (Jessica Alupo), if we could adopt this custom, it is a good one. During the Holy Week, consider releasing some prisoners because it is very important and a Christian thing.
As we carry the cross, we can say; these particular prisoners were released as a custom. It could be a good custom for us as a country.”
The Archbishop’s suggestion draws from a long-standing Holy Week tradition in some nations, where symbolic acts of mercy are practiced, including the release of select prisoners.
His remarks were made in the context of national prayer, reflection, and the call to embrace values of forgiveness and compassion during one of Christianity’s most sacred observances.
In the biblical account of Matthew 27:15, it is noted that during the Passover festival, it was customary to release a prisoner chosen by the people.
In response, H. E. Jessica Alupo, while delivering her message, she committed to carry the message to H. E. Kaguta Museveni for consideration.
While the historical account tells of Jesus being denied and Barabbas released, Archbishop Kaziimba referenced the idea as a custom with potential redemptive value—not as a repetition of that injustice, but as a reflection of Christian mercy.
His words resonated deeply in a country where the justice system continues to draw public attention, and where calls for humane treatment and rehabilitation are increasingly part of national discourse.