The Independent Uganda: You get the Truth we Pay the Price
Kampala, Uganda | URN | A call for peace, reflection, and personal renewal set the tone as hundreds of Christians gathered for the annual Ecumenical Public Way of the Cross in Kampala.
Preaching to the faithful, Rt. Rev. Joseph Anthony Zziwa urged believers to examine their lives and become true channels of peace in a society strained by corruption, violence, and division.
“Let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts,” he said, quoting the bible, as he challenged Christians to carry the message of the Cross beyond the procession and into daily life.
The Good Friday event, organised by the Uganda Joint Christian Council, brought together Catholics, Anglicans, and Orthodox believers at Old Kampala Secondary School playground. The annual pilgrimage has grown into a key moment of unity during Holy Week.
Earlier, groups of worshippers trekked through city streets under the heat, many carrying small wooden crosses in remembrance of Jesus Christ’s journey to Calvary. Hymns filled the air, with some accompanied by brass bands, as traffic slowed along parts of the route.
Leading the Catholic faithful from Lubaga Cathedral, Archbishop Paul Ssemogerere guided participants through the Stations of the Cross, pausing for prayer and reflection on both personal struggles and national concerns.
At Old Kampala, there was an ecumenical service. In his homily, Bishop Zziwa, the chairperson of UJCC and ordinary of Kiyinda Mityana diocese questioned the meaning of the journey itself. He asked pilgrims why they had chosen to walk under the sun, urging them to see the act as more than ritual. He said the Cross, once a sign of shame, now stands as a symbol of redemption and restored human dignity.
He pressed the congregation to assess their role in society. He spoke against corruption, noting how resources meant for the poor are diverted for personal gain. He condemned violence in all forms, from the killing of unborn children to attacks on the elderly and vulnerable. He also warned against tribalism, political hostility, and the misuse of social media to spread hate.
Referencing global conflicts and instability, Zziwa cautioned against the misuse of knowledge and technology for destruction instead of human progress.
Addressing leaders across all levels, he said positions of authority carry responsibility. Political leaders, civil servants, parents, and young people must act as agents of peace in their communities.
Bishop Zziwa urged the faithful to return home with the crosses they carried as a sign of mission. He called on them to share the message of Christ’s sacrifice and extend peace even to those they struggle to forgive.
However, the turnout this year was noticeably lower than in previous years, with fewer people joining the annual ecumenical procession compared to the larger crowds that have typically filled the streets of Kampala during Holy Week.
Organisers and participants attributed the reduced numbers to a combination of factors, including the intense midday heat and the growing practice of some faithful opting to follow the event through live broadcasts from the comfort of their parishes or homes among others.
One participant, Rose Babirye, a regular pilgrim from Lubaga who has attended the event for years, expressed mild disappointment:
“I have walked this way of the cross many times, and today the crowd felt thinner. Maybe the sun was too strong, or people are getting used to watching it on television. But the spirit was still strong among those who came.”
Another faithful, John Okello, a teacher from Nsambya who carried a small wooden cross, observed: “The numbers may have dropped, but the quality of prayer and reflection seemed deeper. In past years, it was sometimes more crowded and noisy. This time, we could really meditate on the stations as we walked.”
For vendors selling Christian materials and photographers hoping to capture the event, the day proved commercially “dry”. Annet Mwanje, a longtime seller of Catholic devotional items such as rosaries, prayer books, crucifixes and medals, said she had pinned high hopes on the pilgrimage but ended up disappointed.
“In past years, I have been making some sales, but today has not been good as the people are few and they are not buying.” she noted.
