Tayari News
The Archbishop of the Church of Uganda, His Grace Stephen Kaziimba Mugalu, has condemned the brutal killing of four toddlers at Ggaba Early Childhood Development Centre, describing the tragedy as evidence of a broken and bloody world that urgently needs divine intervention. Preaching during Easter Sunday celebrations at All Saints’ Cathedral, Nakasero, Archbishop Kaziimba expressed shock and grief over the incident, which he said indicates the growing moral crisis in society.
“Can you imagine children of one year, two years being killed? These are very innocent. What do you gain from such actions, even if you are angry with adults? Why transfer that anger to children? said Kaziimba.
The Archbishop was referring to a tragic attack at the Ggaba-based nursery school where four toddlers were brutally killed on Thursday by an assailant carrying a machete who hacked their necks and stomachs.
According to the Uganda Police Force reports, a man identified as Christopher Okello Onyu allegedly posed as a parent seeking to enroll children, paid 180,000 shillings, and later drew knives, attacking children who were playing at the facility. By the time an alarm was raised, four children had been fatally stabbed. Police indicate that Okello was stopped when he was charging towards the 5th child.
Kaziimba has now condemned the act as very bad and unacceptable, warning that such violence reflects a deeper breakdown in human values. “We are in a broken world, a bruised world, a bloody world. These are signs that something is terribly wrong in our society.”
Kaziimba has cautioned that anger and frustration are increasingly being misdirected towards vulnerable individuals, especially children, citing cases where adults especially the maids, have previously transferred grievances onto those who cannot defend themselves.
The Archbishop noted that no human systems alone can resolve such deep-seated issues, noting that even security interventions have limitations. “You can deploy the army, you can deploy the police, you can bring cameras and systems, but people cannot be changed by those things. Only Jesus can change human hearts. Only Jesus can save us,” he preached.
Kaziimba added that even the institutions people often look to for help are themselves facing challenges and equally need help. On this, he has pointed to constraints within security agencies, including inadequate resources such as old equipment, especially the cars, which he said he has at times seen police driving very old cars. He noted that relying solely on enforcement without addressing the human heart would not solve the country’s problems. From the condemnation, Kaziimba transitioned to the Easter message and reminded Christians that the resurrection of Jesus Christ represents “peace, power, and purpose.”
Quoting from the Gospel, he said the first words of the risen Christ to His disciples were, “Peace be with you,” noting that this came despite their failures. “He was denied, he was deserted, he was disappointed by his disciples, but he never criticized them. He forgave them. That is the example we must follow”, said the Archbishop.
He called on Ugandans to embrace forgiveness and peaceful coexistence, urging communities to support one another rather than live in division and selfishness. “Can we learn to live together? Can we learn to share and eat together instead of eating alone while others are suffering?” he asked. In his preaching, the Archbishop also displayed a video clip from Tiktok on the wider screens of the Church involving many people, possibly from Western Uganda, eating happily together, katogo of matooke on banana leaves, and asked the Christians to emulate them.
The Archbishop also pointed to global conflicts, particularly in the Middle East, saying the continued loss of life shows the urgent need for peace. “People may think it is far away, but we are already affected, even through rising fuel prices,” he noted. At the national level, Kaziimba cited corruption, instability, and social divisions as ongoing challenges, urging citizens to embrace values that promote unity.
“There is a lot of instability and corruption in our country. This Easter, the Lord is calling us to maintain peace, the kind of peace the world cannot give,” he said. He emphasized that the resurrection is the cornerstone of Christian faith, affirming the power of Christ to overcome fear, remove doubt, and transform lives. “The risen Lord gives us power to overcome our challenges. He replaces fear with faith and gives us purpose,” he said.
Kaziimba, whose main theme of Preaching was based on peace, power, and Purpose has urged believers to become ambassadors of peace, love, forgiveness, and reconciliation, noting that societal change begins with individuals. “Only Jesus can change people’s hearts. Systems alone cannot solve our problems,” he reiterated. At the same service, t, Reverend Canon Dr Rebecca Nyegenye, led prayers focused on national renewal, calling on Ugandans to remain steadfast in faith. “We cannot live without God. He is the author of life and holds our future and destiny,” she said.
Nyegenye prayed for Uganda’s leadership, including the executive, parliament, judiciary, as well as security agencies such as the army and police, asking God to guide them in making decisions that promote justice and peace. She also called for spiritual revival within the Church and urged believers to continue praying for families, the sick, and persecuted Christians worldwide. The First Deputy Prime Minister Rebecca Kadaga, was among the big numbers of people who have showed up to attend the Sunday prayers.
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