As Uganda commemorated the 140th Uganda Martyrs’ Day at the Namugongo Anglican Shrine, Church of Uganda Archbishop, Dr. Stephen Kaziimba Mugalu, sounded a stern warning against rising threats to Church property, particularly from land grabbers.
In a strongly worded appeal delivered to thousands of pilgrims during the celebrations, Archbishop Kaziimba lamented the growing impunity surrounding Church land, singling out unresolved compensation claims from the government.
“Church land has come under increasing threat. We still have a balance of Shs21 billion in unpaid compensation for Church land at Makerere,” he disclosed, underscoring a deepening concern within the Anglican leadership about the protection of sacred property.
The Archbishop’s comments come at a time when land disputes have become a flashpoint in Uganda, affecting individuals, institutions, and now, places of worship.
His call for redress was not just financial it was spiritual, framed as part of a larger mission to uphold justice and the sanctity of God’s work.
Archbishop Kaziimba didn’t stop there. He used the platform to make a broader call for national unity, urging Ugandans to embrace peace as the 2026 general elections approach.
“As we draw near to transitions in different political administrative offices at all levels, I call upon all Ugandans to keep peace for yourself and others,” Kaziimba said. “Register and vote. I call each one of us to resist the politics of violence but to respect each other as God’s people.”
He also reminded state security organs of their duty to safeguard lives and property, warning against complacency in the face of escalating tensions.
In a wide-ranging address that touched on some of Uganda’s most pressing social issues, the Archbishop raised alarm over what he described as “an alarming rise in drug and substance abuse among our young people,” calling the crisis a destabilizing force in families and a driver of crime.
“The rampant use of marijuana, alcohol, opioids, tobacco, and other substances is destroying lives and worsening mental health,” he noted, urging families, schools, churches, and the government to act decisively.
In addition to calls for urgent compensation, Archbishop Kaziimba appealed for shs14.87 billion to complete the second phase of the Uganda Martyrs Museum project.
He emphasized the significance of the site for preserving Christian heritage and boosting faith-based tourism.
“This is not just a celebration—it is a mission. A mission to call people to repentance, to faith, and to a renewed commitment to Christ as Lord and Savior,” he declared.
The day’s message was further amplified by former Archbishop Henry Luke Orombi, who delivered the main sermon. Orombi painted a somber picture of Uganda’s moral and spiritual fabric, warning of a decaying national conscience.
“Sometimes when you see what’s happening today, people treating each other as things, and spilling blood without remorse, the conscience of the nation is going,” Orombi said, urging a collective return to moral clarity.
