Archbishop Kaziimba safe as church dismisses viral boston ‘attack’ claims

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A viral video claiming that Archbishop Stephen Samuel Kaziimba Mugalu was attacked during a church service in the United States has been dismissed as false, with the Church of Uganda clarifying that only a brief and quickly contained disruption occurred.

The Church said on May 4, 2026, that the incident happened during a service at St Peter’s Anglican Church in Boston, where the Archbishop is currently on an official pastoral visit. Contrary to widely shared claims online, the Church stressed that there was no attack and that the Archbishop was never in danger.

In a statement, the Church said a small group of unidentified individuals caused a momentary disturbance during the service.

It was not immediately clear who caused the disturbance or what their aim was. However, the Church said security personnel and church stewards intervened swiftly, restoring order within minutes and allowing the service to proceed uninterrupted.

“The reports circulating online are false and misleading,” the Church said, adding that the Archbishop “remains safe and continues to execute his ministry as scheduled.”

The video

Footage from the service reviewed by New Vision Online shows a largely calm and orderly congregation, but which later briefly interrupted by a vocal commotion of a small group at the back pews of a fully packed church. 

One of them a woman is holding a Uganda flag. 

Throughout the incident, Kaziimba remains at the pulpit, composed, with no physical confrontation or contact visible.

The service continued normally after the interruption, with the Archbishop leading Holy Communion and concluding with blessings for congregants. 

He is also seen interacting freely with worshippers afterwards—further evidence, the Church noted, that he was unharmed.

Archbishop Kaziimba is in the United States as part of a wider pastoral and diplomatic mission, engaging Ugandan diaspora communities and strengthening ties within the global Anglican movement, including his role in the Global Anglican Future Conference.

His visit includes leading services, offering spiritual guidance, and holding meetings with international church leaders and partners—activities the Church says will continue as planned despite the incident.

Boston has an established and vibrant diaspora population of Ugandans. 

Often centred in the city of Waltham—frequently nicknamed "Little Kampala"—as well as surrounding areas like Woburn, Lowell, and Billerica, this community serves as a vital hub for Ugandans living in the US, according to a recent report. 

It is a diverse group that includes long-term residents who settled in the U.S. decades ago, as well as a younger generation of students and professionals.