Way of the Cross: Prelates call for social harmony, religious devotion

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As one of the activities to commemorate Good Friday, hundreds of Christians on Friday, April 18, 2025, converged at Old Kampala SSS playground to celebrate the ecumenical Public Way of the Cross.

The event is organised annually by the Uganda Joint Christians Council to enable Christians to commemorate and meditate on the passion of Jesus Christ, which preceded His crucifixion, death and resurrection. Uganda Joint Christian Council (UJCC) is an ecumenical organisation that brings together the Catholic Church, the Anglican Church and the Orthodox Church.

The Boys' and Girls' Brigade Brass Ensemble leading the Christians from Namirembe Cathedral in the Ecumenical Public Way of the Cross on Good Friday. (Photo by Mathias Mazinga)

By 8:00am, Christians had already assembled at their respective churches/cathedrals, from where they set off and headed to Old Kampala, carrying symbolic crosses and singing Christian hymns related to the passion of Christ.

The Christians were from churches such as Lubaga Cathedral, All Saints Cathedral Kampala, St Nicholas Orthodox Cathedral Namungoona, Christ the King Church Kampala, Mulago Catholic Church, St Peter’s Proto-Cathedral Nsambya, etc.

On converging at Old Kampala, the Christians participated in an ecumenical prayer service that was beautifully animated by an ecumenical chamber choir.  The Boys’ and Girls’ Brigade Brass Ensemble (Mengo Company I) also added colour to the function.

A spectacle of the Boys' and Girls' Brigade colour party in a march-action. (Photo by Mathias Mazinga)

During the service, the Christians prayed for Church leaders, women and mothers, political leaders, medical officers and the sick. They also prayed for media people, the security forces and those seeking refuge and sanctuary from war, violence and hardships.

Highlights

The prayer service had very interesting highlights, one of which was the homily of the Archbishop of the Church of Uganda, the Most Rev Dr Stephen Samuel Kaziimba Mugalu, a Co-Chair of UJCC. The towering Prelate urged Christians to put their trust in the loving care and providence of God, even when they are faced with difficult challenges and tribulations.

Archbishop Samuel Stephen Kaziimba delivers his homily. (Photo by Mathias Mazinga)

“Jesus is the only one with the power to calm our storms, including greed, corruption, political violence, character assassination and blackmailing,” he said.

Kaziimba also called upon Christians and all Ugandans to promote national unity so that we can have a healthy, educated, harmonious and developed Uganda.

The ecumenical choir leading the singing during the prayer service. (Photo by Mathias Mazinga)

“We need each other. Each one of us is important. Yes, we belong to different tribes, different religions. But we all serve the same God,” he said.

Kaziimba caused even more excitement when he proposed that government imitates the custom of the ancient Roman Governor of setting free prisoners chosen by the people every Passover festival.

Archbishop Paul Ssemogerere (left) and Archbishop Samuel Stephen Kaziimba (right) helping a little girl with visual impairment to read a Braille Bible. (Photo by Mathias Mazinga)

Easter Message From UJCC

Another highlight of the service was the Easter message from UJCC, delivered by the organisation’s reigning Chairman, the Rt Rev Bishop Prof. Joseph Antony Zziwa, who among many other things, called upon government to do more to end corruption, which he said, affects service delivery, particularly to the vulnerable poor and the marginalized.

Bishop Joseph Antony Zziwa (left) shares a moment with Archbishop Samuel Stephen Kaziimba. (Photo by Mathias Mazinga)

The Prelate expressed concern over the gross degradation of the environment and asked all Ugandans to refrain from those practices that put the country at risk of climate change. He also called upon Ugandans to embrace the ideal of living in unity in diversity.

“Deference in views and opinions should not make us enemies. They should rather create for us opportunities for dialogue and mutual understanding.” Zziwa also called for an end to political manipulation and violence and put it to all Ugandans to work for free and fair elections.

Ecumenical Atmosphere

The function carried a lot of ecumenical meaning owing to the presence of religious leaders and lay Christians from all the mainstream Christian denominations.

Bishop Joseph Antony Zziwa (left) shares a moment with Archbishop Samuel Stephen Kaziimba. (Photo by Mathias Mazinga)

They included the Catholic Archbishop of Kampala Archdiocese, Paul Ssemogerere, the Orthodox Archbishop Jeronymos Muzeeyi, Bishop Moses Banja of Namirembe Diocese, the Provost of All Saints Cathedral Kampala, Canon Rebecca Nyegenye, and others.

Political Atmosphere

The function also attracted politicians from various political parties, including the state minister for Kampala Joseph Kyofatogabye, Hon Engineer Ronald Balimwezo, Hon Samuel Lubega Mukaaku, Hon Joseph Ssewungu, Hon Aloysius Mukasa, and others.

Vice-Presidential Spectacle

The magnitude of the function was greatly enhanced by the surprise presence of the Vice-President, Hon Jessica Alupo, who during her speech, encouraged Christians to continue with the practice of prayer, alms-giving, fasting, forgiveness and compassion, even after Easter.

Vice-President Jessica Alupo shares a moment with Bishop Joseph Antony Zziwa and Hon Joseph Kyofatogabye (centre) upon arrival for the ecumenical prayer service at Old Kampala SSS. (Photo by Mathias Mazinga)

She lauded religious leaders for forming the moral consciousness of Christians, and also, for their contribution to healthcare, education service delivery and development. She assured them of government’s unwavering support.

Alupo nonetheless asked the religious leaders to partner with government in its wealth-creation crusade by preaching and demonstrating to their followers the various household income improvement initiatives of the NRM government, such as Emyooga, Parish Development Model, and others. She took the Christians by surprise when at the end of her speech, she called on all people to vote for President Museveni in 2026.

General Secretary’s Gratitude

The Secretary General of UJCC, Fr Daniel Musiitwa, was very much impressed by the success of the function. He thanked all those who had helped the organization to pull off the event.

He particularly thanked President Yoweri Museveni, Vice-President Jessica Alupo, the Uganda Episcopal Conference, and the respective mainstream Churches for their contribution/support.

The celebration ran under the theme: "They woke him and cried, Lord save us! We are lost/perishing (Matthew 8:25).