A solemn Good Friday procession in Tororo took on deeper civic meaning as the Bishop Tororo Archdiocese, the Most Rev Emmanuel Obbo, used the Way of the Cross to deliver a timely and resonant message about peace, service, and moral leadership ahead of Uganda’s 2026 general elections.
Walking through the streets of Tororo Municipality with a wooden cross on his shoulders, Bishop Obbo led hundreds of Christians in a spiritual reenactment of Christ’s final journey.
The procession made stops at various institutions where he offered prayers and blessings, ending at the Uganda Martyrs Cathedral.
But beyond its religious symbolism, the event became a clarion call for ethical leadership and unity in the face of rising political tensions.
“Elections carry a lot of emotions and everyone says, ‘I must win.’ But even if you win, do not win selfishly,” the Archbishop told the crowd.
“Leadership is about service for all, not just for yourself and your family.”
He cautioned political aspirants against inciting division for personal gain, reminding them of Uganda’s turbulent past and the fragile nature of peace.
“Peace is a long-term project,” he said. “If you lived here in the 1970s, there was no peace. It only started returning slowly in the early 1980s and we prayed for it. We must not lose what we have gained because of elections.”
The message struck a chord with those in attendance, including aspiring politicians and cultural leaders, who praised the Archbishop’s words as a necessary intervention at a critical time in the country’s political calendar.
Richard Owere Machika, a parliamentary aspirant, echoed the Archbishop’s appeal.
“Politics shouldn't be a do-or-die affair. We need clear manifestos that explain why we want to lead. Without that, we mislead our people who deserve to make informed decisions,” he said.
Gabriel Ochola, Minister for Culture in the Tieng Adhola Cultural Institution, called on leaders to move beyond tribal or sectarian campaign strategies.
“We don’t want politics based on division. Tell us what you plan to do. Don’t campaign based on tribe or colour. We need politics of tolerance and service,” he urged.
With parties beginning to prepare for primaries and forge alliances, the Archbishop’s Way of the Cross message is likely to remain etched in the minds of many as a moral compass for the electoral period ahead.
His words added a spiritual gravity to the broader national conversation on leadership, integrity, and the preservation of hard-won peace.
In a political landscape where rhetoric often deepens fault lines, Archbishop Obbo’s call for servant leadership and civic responsibility stood as both a prayer and a warning: that the journey to 2026 should not sacrifice the soul of the nation.