Anglican Church of Uganda Archbishop Stephen Kaziimba Mugalu has urged Christians to emulate the early church by promoting unity, generosity and mutual support, warning that materialism and selfishness are eroding Christian values.
Speaking during his farewell service at St James Cathedral in Ruharo, Mbarara City, on Sunday, Archbishop Kaziimba said the early church thrived because believers shared resources and cared for one another.
‘The early church promoted spiritual liberation, sacrificial generosity and unity amongst each other, and this eradicated greed, selfishness, poverty and hatred, which are common among Christians today,’ he said.
The Archbishop cautioned that the church risks losing relevance if its members remain divided and indifferent to the suffering of others.
‘It is not enough to come to church to pray when your neighbours are suffering in poverty, do not have something to eat and are living miserably. If Christians had a sense of caring and sharing with each other as it was in the early church, all the people of God would be doing well. But some who are wealthy are selfish, greedy and corrupt, which is not Godly,’ he said.
Archbishop Kaziimba said the church should pursue a holistic ministry that addresses both spiritual and social needs.
‘We need a healthy, Christ-centred church that does not only focus on spiritual liberation. A Christian who is suffering in poverty may not fully comprehend your teachings in church, and this frustrates the gospel,’ he added.
He challenged church leaders to establish income-generating projects and support economic empowerment initiatives for congregants.
‘I am happy that some dioceses, such as Ankole, have not only established income-generating projects for the church but are also promoting household and community transformation through initiatives such as coffee growing,’ he said.
Ankole Diocese Bishop Sheldon Mwesigwa echoed the Archbishop’s message, saying the church must integrate spiritual ministry with social and economic wellbeing.
‘You cannot preach to Christians who are sick and living in poverty. We need a ministry that empowers people to live wholesome lives, to be healthy and economically empowered,’ Bishop Mwesigwa told the congregation.
He noted that during his pastoral visits he often travels with health workers to provide free medical services to Christians.
During a separate visit to North West Diocese on Saturday, Archbishop Kaziimba also appealed to the government to support infrastructure development in church-founded schools.
‘Some schools, such as Kibubura Girls Secondary School, have for a long time contributed greatly to the education of our children, but their infrastructure is inadequate and this compromises the learning environment,’ he said while preaching at St Paul Cathedral in Ibanda Municipality.
The Archbishop further called for peace and unity across religious, ethnic and social divides.
‘Be peacemakers. You are called to be reconcilers, not conflict causers. Ensure peace and unity without segregation based on religion, tribe or appearance,’ he said.
Archbishop Kaziimba announced that he will officially retire on August 15, 2027, after which he intends to focus on mentorship, discipleship and spending time with his family.
He also confirmed that seven bishops from different provinces are expected to retire next year.