The Archbishop of Gulu Archdiocese, Raphael Wokorach P’Mony, has called for elections that are free from intimidation, fear, and violence, urging political actors to instead inspire voters through love, honesty, and good example.
Delivering his Christmas message on Wednesday at the Gulu Archdiocese headquarters in Gulu City, Archbishop Wokorach said the meaning of Christmas should guide both personal conduct and the country’s political journey as Uganda heads toward general elections.
He placed his message within the Church’s Advent tradition, describing Christmas preparation as a form of catechesis meant to help believers rediscover the true meaning of the celebration.
He explained that the Advent wreath, marked by four candles, symbolizes the core values of hope, peace, joy, and love, which he said are closely linked to the cardinal virtues of justice, courage, prudence, and temperance.
“These values should shape our lives and even the way we conduct our public affairs. Christmas is fundamentally an event of faith, not merely a social or commercial season,” Archbishop Wokorach said.
Archbishop Wokorach also reflected on the wider context in which this year’s Christmas is being celebrated, pointing to the conclusion of the Catholic Jubilee Year 2025 themed Pilgrims of Hope, and the ongoing preparations for Uganda’s general elections.
“It is difficult to celebrate Christmas without looking at what surrounds us as a country,” he said, referring to the current political campaigns.
He expressed concern over recent incidents of violence and disruption during campaign activities, including reports of intimidation, clashes, and reported loss of life during the campaign rally of the National Unity Presidential candidate Robert Kyagulanyi Ssentamu in Gulu city.
The Cleric urged Ugandans to allow the spirit of Christmas to guide the electoral process, saying faith should inspire self-examination and rejection of violence, greed, anger, and hatred.
“We are moving towards general elections and we are right now in the midst of political campaign. In our area, the start of the campaign was a bit cool unfortunately, along the road, along the way, there have been manifestations of disturbance, violence that emerged, for example, stopping some candidates, the presidential candidate of one party,” he said.
Drawing from the nativity story, Archbishop Wokorach said God’s model of leadership is one that inspires rather than intimidates adding that Jesus was born humbly in a stable, not as a conquering warrior, but as a child meant to draw people through love.
“No fear, no intimidation… Let us inspire each other with our good examples, with our honest programme of development. This is where we may join our hands and unite with God in the journey. Otherwise, we may go offside and the consequences may lead us once again to what we experienced recently; Violence,” he said.
Archbishop Wokorach’s remarks come amid growing calls by religious leaders, cultural institutions, civil society organisations, and political actors in the Acholi sub-region for a free and peaceful electoral process, following recent violence during the campaign trail of NUP presidential candidate in Gulu City.
Rt Rev Godfrey Loum, the Northern Uganda Diocese Bishop, told Uganda Radio Network in an earlier interview that the government must ensure it provides equal treatment to all presidential candidates to ensure a free and fair election. Bishop Loum condemned what he termed as targeted attacks on people and their property within Gulu city and urged the government to provide accountability for the injustices.
On Thursday, the Police announced they had arrested a total of 41 suspects in connection to the December 6 chaos in Gulu including its ring leader Fatuma Aleng, whom the police accuse of mobilizing gangs through social media. The suspects are being detained at Gulu Central Police Station pending further investigation.
Uganda is scheduled to hold presidential and parliamentary elections on January 15, 2026, with the contest widely seen as tight. Incumbent President Yoweri Museveni, who will mark 40 years in power next year, faces strong competition from Kyagulanyi, a two-time presidential contender and musician-turned-politician.
Other contenders in the race are Maj Gen (Rtd) Mugisha Muntu of the Alliance for National Transformation (ANT), Frank Buliira of the Revolutionary People’s party, Conservative Party’s Joseph Mabiziri, Robert Kasibante of the National Peasant’s party, Forum for Democratic Change (FDC) Nandala Mafabi and Mubarak Munyagwa of the Common Man’s party.
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