Peace, love, and non-violence dominate Christmas and New Year messages

GULU - As Christians prepare to celebrate Christmas and Ugandans head toward the forthcoming general elections, church leaders in Northern Uganda have called for peace, love, and non-violence to prevail during the festive season, campaign period, and voting time.

The Archbishop of Gulu Archdiocese, His Grace Raphael Wokorach P’Mony, has urged Christians to remain peaceful, show love, and reject all forms of violence as the country prepares to welcome the birth of Jesus Christ and participate in the general elections.

He said the celebration of Christmas begins with Advent, the four weeks before the Nativity of Christ, during which the Church observes the rite of lighting four candles symbolizing Hope, Peace, Joy, and Love.

These, he explained, also correspond to the four cardinal virtues of Justice, Courage, Prudence, and Temperance, which form the pillars of human life.

Archbishop Wokorach emphasised that good preparation leads to a meaningful celebration of Christmas, keeping its original meaning intact. He said Christians should celebrate the birth of Jesus with love, joy, and peace within their families, rooting themselves in the virtues of Hope, Peace, Joy, and Love.

He added that Christians need to reflect on the context in which they are celebrating this year’s Christmas, noting two significant events shaping the season. From the Church’s perspective, he said, the Church is concluding the Jubilee Year 2025 under the theme “Pilgrims of Hope.”

“It was a year meant for us to live and experience hope, hope in the risen Christ and hope in eternal life. This should prepare us, as Christians, to celebrate Christmas by recognising the element of hope in our lives,” he said.

Secondly, Archbishop Wokorach noted that Ugandans are also looking ahead to the general elections and how they are being prepared. He said it is difficult to celebrate Christmas without considering the surrounding realities of campaigns and elections.

“The issue of faith should guide us. Christmas is an event of faith; it is not merely a social or business occasion, as it is often treated in today’s world. It goes beyond what we see in terms of movement and hard work. As human beings, we are often doing it the wrong way,” Wokorach emphasised.

He said that as Christians celebrate Christmas, they should place their lives before God to fulfil its true meaning. He described the season as a moment of self-examination, urging believers to reflect on how they have lived throughout the year.

“We should ask ourselves in our hearts: Is there violence, greed, anger, jealousy, or lust dwelling within us and driving us forward at this time? Or is there goodness, gentleness, forgiveness, and hope itself? God wants us to confront our lives within His Spirit,” he said.

“So, this is a time for us to seek more goodness, forgiveness, and gentleness in order to experience deeper joy in our lives, because Christmas brings joy,” he added.

Archbishop Wokorach further noted that the country is in a period of political Advent, moving toward general elections and already in the midst of campaigns across different areas.

He lamented that although the start of the campaigns was relatively calm, there have unfortunately been incidents of disturbance and violence along the way, including the reported obstruction of a presidential candidate from the National Unity Platform (NUP).

“The NUP candidate who passed through our region faced interference by government agents, which created fear. I was also informed that a young boy was killed, and lives were lost, and that looting took place in town. This created a deeply regrettable atmosphere. Let Christmas help us to recover, and let the journey toward elections be guided by the spirit of Christmas,” he emphasised.

He said it is important for Ugandans, as people of God, to observe peace and love during both Christmas and the election period, stressing that God does not want intimidation of any kind.

He added that God sent Jesus as a king, the true model of leadership.

Archbishop Wokorach said the birth of Jesus should help people reflect on the elections, noting that Christ’s coming at Christmas should raise awareness of how He came into the world.

He urged leaders vying for political positions to emulate Him and become God-fearing leaders.

“This is the message we should take as we prepare for Christmas and the elections. It should inspire us to rise up in love, which is the core of the matter, guiding us through campaigns and elections without fear or intimidation. Let us inspire one another through good examples and honest development programs, and unite with God on this journey,” he said.

Bishop Godfrey Luwum of the Diocese of Northern Uganda. (Credit: Johnisani Ocakacon) 

Bishop Godfrey Loum, Diocese of Northern Uganda

The Right Reverend Bishop Godfrey Loum of the Diocese of Northern Uganda, in his Christmas message, said the festive season should help Christians reflect on their lives as they prepare to welcome the birth of Jesus Christ.

Bishop Loum said the world is torn apart by hatred and violence within communities, and that Christmas is a time for people to renew their lives, hearts, and love in God.

“At this time of Christmas, we need to show love to one another and reflect on what we have done wrong to others, so that we repent as Christians for what has gone wrong during the year,” he said.

He added that as people prepare for Christmas, Christians should also prepare for Christ’s second coming, allowing love for one another and for God to help them remain loving people.

Bishop Loum condemned political violence as well as violence in homes, saying that as people celebrate Christmas, citizens should remain calm during campaigns and elections.

“We do not want violence to escalate again during this Christmas and election period. This season should help us, as believers, to remain loving people of God and maintain stable peace in our country,” he said.

He condemned what happened in Gulu City during the visit of presidential candidate Robert Kyagulanyi Sentamu of the NUP, where violence and looting occurred, and said such incidents should not be repeated anywhere. He called for peaceful elections in January 2026.

The Bishop also warned people against overspending during the festive season and advised them not to sell household essentials, reminding families that children will need to return to school next year.

“I have seen and witnessed people carelessly overspending to the extent of selling what is meant to provide food for their families during Christmas. We should look beyond this festive season and focus on the future,” he added.

Bishop Loum further cautioned against excessive alcohol consumption, urging people to avoid over-drinking as they celebrate the birth of Jesus Christ and to remain sober as Christians.