The Archbishop of the Church of Uganda, Dr. Samuel Steven Kaziimba Mugalu, has called on religious leaders to champion peace, reconciliation, and love as the country heads to the polls.
On a pastoral visit to the Nakivale Refugee Settlement in Isingiro district, Archbishop Kaziimba began his journey with a meeting of bishops and other religious leaders attending a four-day fellowship at Las Vegas Hotel, Mbarara City.
“I want to request you to pray for Uganda during this time of elections. You need to ensure that the message of peace is carried all over,” Kaziimba urged the leaders.
He emphasised the importance of peace, particularly in the context of refugees who have fled conflict to settle in Uganda. “We have refugees coming here because there is relative peace. If this peace is gone, and we are also supposed to become refugees, where shall we go? So we need to keep this peace,” he added.
Archbishop Kaziimba tasked bishops and religious leaders with spreading messages of hope, reconciliation, and love to prevent conflict and bloodshed.
“My brother Bishops, I want you to preach and promote the message of hope, peace, reconciliation, and love for one another. The theme for next year will be anchored on Christ for peace, unity, and stability,” he said.
He also encouraged leaders in the Great Lakes region to engage in dialogue, noting, “We have often seen and heard how the big people who hate each other meet in private and talk, yet people who do not know each other, and don’t hate each other, end up fighting and killing each other.”
During his visit to Nakivale Refugee Settlement, Archbishop Kaziimba is expected to deliver relief items and lead a prayer service for the community.