Ankole bishop Mwesigwa warns against reckless driving, advocates for peaceful polls

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Ankole Bishop the Rt. Rev. Assoc. Prof. Fred Sheldon Mwesigwa has urged citizens to drive carefully during the festive season. He attributes the surge in road crashes during the festive period to speeding and drunk driving.

“I was talking to a friend who was coming from Kampala and told me he witnessed 10 accidents on his way. Imagine 10 accidents, this is the time when people should be happy in their homes, I ask people to repent and drive carefully," he says.

Deriving from Lucky Duby songs, including I'm a slave, Mwesigwa urges Ugandans to avoid the pitfalls of drinking alcohol.

The bishop says he is concerned that some Ugandans have become slaves to liquor and slaves to drunkenness, attributing this to the reasons that their families are living in poverty, to the extent of failing to educate their children and care for their families.

In his Christmas message, Bishop Mwesigwa also discourages people from engaging in other health-threatening life behaviours like committing adultery and drug abuse.

“Unfortunately, sin seems to increase around Christmas [season] as people prefer to resort to world excitement, which includes increased corruption and theft to get money to spend and often impress others; over-speeding and maiming of many, while others die; excess alcohol, which has led to accidents, family breakdowns and irresponsible spending plus sexual immorality," he says.

“With the increase in HIV prevalence in many parts of Uganda and reduced foreign health aid support, this is a recipe for disaster. Let the birth of Christ be a checkpoint of the world to ensure we address sin, which disrupts lives and adversely affects social relations,” he added.

The bishop made the remarks on December 22, 2025, during an interview with New Vision Online at his residence in Ruharo, Marara city.

Bishop Mwesigwa calls for peaceful elections

Since Christ’s birth has this time coincided with the campaign season, Bishop Mwesigwa advocated for peace, calm and quiet throughout the election processes. Mwesigwa is happy to note that the campaign trail has been peaceful apart from the recent incidents of violence.

“The truth needs to be established and blamed apportioned accordingly and wrongs made right, whether by the Police or the Opposition since the latter stress that the former breaches campaign rules, which causes insecurity,” he said.