By Norbert Mao
The Archbishop of Gulu Archdiocese, His Grace, the Most Reverend Raphael P’Mony Wokorach, has called on Christians and the wider Ugandan community to embrace hope, peace, joy and love as the key pillars of this year’s Christmas and New Year celebrations, especially as the country prepares for the 2026 general elections.
The Archbishop made the remarks on Tuesday, December 16th, while addressing journalists in Gulu as he delivered his Christmas and New Year messages.
Archbishop Wokorach urged Christians to use the Christmas season as a time of reflection on the year’s achievements and to remain grateful to God for the gift of life and faith emphasizing that the celebrations should be guided by strong faith in Jesus Christ, encouraging believers to reflect deeply on their lives before God through self-examination, forgiveness, renewal and hope.
He noted that Christmas is a season of joy as the entire Church comes together to celebrate the birth of Christ, a symbol of love and salvation for humanity.
Turning to the political situation, Archbishop Wokorach encouraged Ugandans to be guided by love rather than fear and intimidation, and to inspire others through positive actions and good examples as the nation moves toward the 2026 polls. He specifically cited a recent incident in Gulu City, where a presidential candidate was blocked from accessing parts of the city, resulting in violent clashes and the loss of a life. The Archbishop described the incident as regrettable and painful, calling for calm and restraint among political actors and their supporters.
