Lira, Uganda | Religious leaders across Uganda have used their Good Friday messages to call for repentance, unity, and renewed commitment to Christian values, as believers marked one of the most solemn days in the Christian calendar.
Delivering his message after the Way of the Cross at the Cathedral Ordination Grounds in Lira City, the Bishop of Lira Catholic Diocese, Sanctus Lino Wanok, described the Easter Triduum as a profound journey of faith, sacrifice, and transformation. He explained that Holy Thursday signifies Christ’s total self-giving through the Eucharist and priesthood, while Good Friday reflects His ultimate sacrifice on the cross for the salvation of humanity.
Bishop Wanok noted that Christ’s death demonstrates unconditional love that empowers believers to overcome sin, suffering, and life’s challenges. He urged Christians to observe Holy Saturday as a day of silence, reflection, and self-examination, emphasizing the need to fully accept Christ as a source of healing and salvation.
He added that the symbolism of light during the Easter Vigil represents hope in a world troubled by conflict, jealousy, exploitation, and moral decay, calling on believers to be a source of light even in difficult circumstances. He also encouraged the faithful to seek reconciliation through confession as a pathway to spiritual renewal and freedom from recurring sin.
Turning to societal concerns, Bishop Wanok appealed to Ugandans to respect one another and their property, restore broken relationships, and promote harmony within communities. He further urged both citizens and leaders to embrace repentance and Christ-like leadership, especially during a period of political transition and new government appointments. He called for prayers for national leaders, cultural institutions, and religious communities to foster unity and cooperation, before wishing Ugandans a peaceful Easter grounded in love, forgiveness, and unity.
The Bishop of Lango Diocese, Prof. Alfred Olwa, called on Christians to surrender their burdens to Christ and receive forgiveness. Speaking after the Way of the Cross at Lira City Mayor’s Garden, he urged believers not merely to admire the cross but to approach it personally and lay down their sins, pain, guilt, and grief.
Drawing from the Gospel of Luke, Bishop Olwa said Christ’s declaration “it is finished” signifies victory over sin and the promise of resurrection. He emphasized that because Christ is alive, He continues to forgive and restore lives, urging Christians to turn away from sin and embrace transformation through faith. He described Good Friday as a solemn yet victorious day that points to the hope of Easter Sunday and the promise of new life.
In Soroti Catholic Diocese, Bishop Joseph Eciru Oliach encouraged Christians to sustain the good practices they adopted during Lent, urging them to remain committed to their faith and devotion to God beyond the Easter celebrations.
Meanwhile, the Gulu Archdiocese has suspended the joint Way of the Cross procession that had been scheduled for April 3, 2026, in Gulu City, citing doctrinal differences with other Christian denominations. The decision effectively halts a long-standing ecumenical tradition that has united Catholics, Anglicans, and Orthodox Christians for decades.
Monsignor Cyprian Ocen P’Akech, Parish Priest of Gulu Cathedral and Episcopal Vicar for Gulu Vicariate, said the directive, reportedly issued by Archbishop Raphael P’Mony Wokorach, was informed by differences in doctrine, particularly regarding practices such as the Eucharist and confession. He clarified that while the Way of the Cross will continue within the Catholic Church, joint participation with other denominations has been suspended, and the devotion decentralized to individual parishes.
In Kampala, religious leaders used the Good Friday platform to condemn rising violence following the gruesome murder of four juveniles at a daycare centre in Ggaba. The Archbishop of Kampala, Paul Ssemogerere, speaking at Rubaga Cathedral, denounced the killings and called for peaceful coexistence among Ugandans while urging Christians to remain steadfast in their faith beyond the Lenten season.
Good Friday commemorates the passion, crucifixion, and death of Jesus Christ. It is marked by the Way of the Cross, a devotional reflection on the 14 stages of Christ’s journey to Calvary, alongside fasting, abstinence, and veneration of the Cross. Though sombre, the day signifies victory through Christ’s sacrifice and points to the resurrection celebrated on Easter Sunday.
