Archbishop Kaziimba advocates for clean voter register
Kaziimba emphasised that a clean voter register is vital for maintaining peace, tranquillity, and promoting national development and cohesion.
The Archbishop of the Church of Uganda, Rev. Stephen Kaziimba Mugalu leading prayers during Easter Sunday service at All Saints Cathedral in Nakasero, an upscale suburb of Kampala. (Photos by Colleb Mugume)
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As Ugandans prepare for the upcoming elections, the Archbishop of the Church of Uganda, Rev. Stephen Kaziimba Mugalu, has encouraged citizens to scrutinise the voter register and report the names of deceased individuals.
He made the remarks during Easter Sunday service at All Saints Cathedral in Nakasero, an upscale suburb of Kampala.
Kaziimba emphasised that a clean voter register is vital for maintaining peace, tranquillity, and promoting national development and cohesion.
“I call upon you to go and check the voter register to ensure that your name is there. If you see somebody who has died and their name is still there, please report it to the authorities because we do not want people who have even gone to heaven to vote,” he said.
Peace and dialogue
Kaziimba urged Ugandans to prioritise peace and choose dialogue over violence.
“Let us avoid violent politics, assassination, and blackmail.”
He prayed for peace in neighbouring countries, warning that conflict often results in a refugee influx, which strains Uganda's economy and resources.
“May the Lord provide food, shelter, and clothing for those people,” he said, adding that preparation and planning are essential.
Tensions are currently high in South Sudan, following clashes in the Upper Nile State between forces loyal to President Salva Kiir and his former deputy, Riek Machar, as peace talks continue.
Tackling corruption
On the issue of corruption, the Archbishop called on Christians to join efforts to fight the vice, which he described as a product of selfishness and greed.
He said corruption is not only a legal and governance issue but also a spiritual and moral one, requiring active participation from Christians to address it effectively.
Strengthening healthcare
Kaziimba also called for a robust healthcare system to ensure proper care for God’s people and encouraged the government to consider adopting a national health insurance scheme to benefit citizens and stabilise the country.
He revealed that the Church of Uganda has introduced a health insurance scheme for its members and suggested that the government could draw lessons from it.
Environmental care
The Archbishop urged Christians to stop littering, calling it un-Christian behaviour.
He proposed that Members of Parliament consider setting aside a national day for monthly environmental cleaning, where citizens would focus on cleaning their surroundings.
He encouraged further debate on the proposal.
Supporting retired clergy
Kaziimba encouraged congregants to support income-generating projects aimed at helping retired church ministers, many of whom he said serve faithfully but retire in difficult conditions.
“If you retire, even your friends may go away. We have friends because of an office, signature, and status, but when you retire, everybody runs away. We must prepare something to support our retired church ministers of the Gospel,” he said.
A light-hearted moment
There was a light moment during the service when a clip from the first leg of the Champions League tie between Arsenal and Real Madrid was shown, featuring Declan Rice scoring a brace.
Kaziimba, an avid Arsenal fan, was visibly overjoyed and exclaimed, “Jesus conquered death and became victorious!” as he celebrated Rice’s goal, sparking laughter and excitement from the congregation.
The message of resurrection
Kaziimba said Jesus' resurrection is the foundation of Christian hope for eternity and the backbone of the Christian faith.
“The resurrection of Christ proves that the grave is not the final destination and last chapter, but it is because of him who rose from the dead,” he said.
He observed that many Christians grow up in church but never form a personal relationship with Christ—knowing hymns but not knowing Him personally.
The Archbishop warned that even Christians from clergy homes may mistakenly believe that having a church background or clergy parents exempts them from personally confessing Christ.
He cited the example of a clergy son in Mukono who was a drunkard, saying, “He's drinking on behalf of his parents because they never drank,” and condemned such behaviour as blasphemous.
He urged Christians to accept Jesus Christ personally, emphasising that faith should not be delegated or lived vicariously through others.
Kaziimba reiterated that Jesus Christ’s resurrection is not just a historical fact but also humanity’s hope for eternity.
Quoting from the book of Romans, he reminded Christians that those who accept Jesus Christ as their personal Saviour and Lord will not perish but have everlasting life.