KAMPALA, Uganda — Catholic bishops in Uganda issued a strongly worded pastoral letter Tuesday, their 27th, expressing deep concern over a perceived decline in moral and spiritual values, coupled with persistent issues of homicide, corruption, and rights abuses across the country.
The Uganda Episcopal Conference (UEC), the bishops’ umbrella body, recalled its first pastoral letter, “Shaping Our National Destiny,” issued in 1962, which outlined values for the newly independent Uganda, including the common good, human dignity, justice, and democratic governance. Their previous letter, “Break the Yoke” (September 2022), addressed human trafficking.
The latest letter, released during the Lenten season and signed by UEC Chairman Rt. Rev. Joseph Antony Zziwa and other leading bishops, calls for urgent reflection and action to address these critical challenges.
Titled “The Truth will set you free” (Jn. 8:31-32), the bishops’ message points to a growing “moral and spiritual crisis” that they believe underpins a range of societal problems.
They cited alarming statistics on poverty, youth unemployment, and alcohol abuse, noting a 2024 World Health Organization report that ranked Uganda as having the highest alcohol consumption rate in Africa.
Of particular concern is the disregard for the sanctity of life, evidenced by frequent reports of domestic violence leading to murder, violence against children, and mob justice. The bishops unequivocally condemned abortion, reiterating the Church’s teaching on the absolute protection of human life from conception.
The pastoral letter also tackles the pervasive issue of corruption, which the bishops say deprives citizens of essential services and exacerbates inequality. They cited Transparency International’s 2024 Corruption Perceptions Index, which ranked Uganda poorly, and noted the staggering annual loss of nearly 44% of domestic revenue to graft. The bishops called for stronger protections for anti-corruption activists, independence for anti-graft agencies, and sustained political will to prosecute high-profile cases.
The bishops raised alarm over reports of increasing political prisoners and detainees, accusing security agencies of arresting, detaining, torturing, and abducting dissenting voices without due process. This, they asserted, reflects a “troubling pattern” in Ugandan politics.
While acknowledging some progress since independence and the efforts of the government on various fronts, the bishops questioned whether the nation is still adhering to the foundational values envisioned by their predecessors. They urged both citizens and leaders to take individual and collective responsibility for the current state of affairs.
Other bishops who signed the letter include Archbishop of Gulu Most Rev. Raphael p’Mony Wokorach, Archbishop of Kampala Most Rev. Paul Ssemogerere, Archbishop of Mbarara Most Rev. Lambert Bainomugisha, Archbishop of Tororo Most Rev. Emmanuel Obbo, and numerous other bishops from dioceses across Uganda. Emeritus archbishops and bishops also added their names in support of the pastoral message.
