Uganda must confront its spiritual crisis, says Archbishop Wokorach
The archbishop cautioned Christians against fearing those who can only destroy the physical body, urging them instead to guard against forces that destroy the soul.
The Archbishop of the Archdiocese of Gulu, Most Rev. Raphael P’Mony Wokorach, speaking during Sunday Mass at Holy Rosary Church on June 21, 2026. (Photos by Claude Omona)
________________
The Archbishop of the Archdiocese of Gulu, Most Rev. Raphael P’Mony Wokorach, has urged Christians to prioritise the salvation of their souls over worldly fears, warning that a lack of the fear of God is fuelling rampant corruption across all levels of Ugandan society.
Speaking during Sunday Mass at Holy Rosary Church on June 21, 2026, the Gulu Archbishop noted that moral decay has even permeated boarding schools, where alarming cases of theft among young learners are on the rise.
The prelate called for national self-reflection and spiritual renewal, reminding believers to strictly uphold the Ten Commandments to resist deadly sins and reclaim the nation's integrity.
The archbishop cautioned Christians against fearing those who can only destroy the physical body, urging them instead to guard against forces that destroy the soul.
He expressed grave concern over the dwindling fear of God among Ugandans and called for immediate spiritual introspection.
“Is this the Uganda we want? Uganda is not meant to be a sinful country,” Archbishop Wokorach lamented, noting that many Christians have strayed from righteous living.
Reiterating his core message on the fear of God, Archbishop Wokorach advised Christians to stop compromising their values because of worldly anxieties. He noted that many people disrespect God because they are terrified of losing their wealth, jobs or experiencing emotional pain.
The phrase "Fear Not" is mentioned 365 times in the Bible. He therefore called upon believers not to fear what cannot kill the soul, but instead to anchor their fear on what can spoil the soul.
The archbishop enlightened the congregation on how distancing oneself from God breeds restlessness. He defined a free soul as one liberated from sin, describing a lack of love as the ultimate root of sin.
Archbishop Raphael Wokorach PMony during a mass at the Holy Rosary Church in Gulu city.
Educating believers on Catholic doctrine, Archbishop Wokorach distinguished between the two categories of sin. He explained that venial sins are minor, less serious offences against God's law that weaken, but do not destroy, a person's relationship with God or their state of grace. While these light sins hurt the soul, they can be overcome through repentance.
Conversely, he described mortal sins as grave offences that completely separate a person from God’s saving grace, reminding Christians of the seven capital sins: pride, lust, gluttony, envy, anger, greed and sloth.
To combat these, the archbishop urged Christians to strictly adhere to the Ten Commandments, which open the door for the Holy Spirit to come upon them and guide them in discerning right from wrong.
Corruption: a collective crisis
This breakdown of personal morality directly feeds into wider societal vices.
Addressing the vice of corruption, the prelate compared a corrupt mind to water, which will always find a way to flow. He emphasised that corruption has taken deep root in the country precisely because the fear of God has eroded.
The archbishop challenged the public narrative that corruption is a vice exclusive to political leaders.
“Sometimes when we talk about corruption, we only think it is the leaders. But I want to let you know that this is with all of us,” Archbishop Wokorach said.
He explained that corruption stems directly from a failure to respect the name of God, as people commit offences that actively injure His holiness.
He noted that the First Commandment begins by cautioning believers to keep the name of God holy and that Christians are universally called to uphold its sanctity.
Moral decay in schools
This spiritual erosion is no longer just an adult problem; it is actively affecting the next generation.
The man of God expressed deep distress over the manifestation of moral decay among young people, pointing to alarming cases of theft occurring in boarding schools.
“This is where the rottenness of the society begins to manifest if we do not stop,” Archbishop Wokorach warned, calling on Christian parents and guardians to be deeply concerned about these early signs of societal decline.