‘EMULATE HIS INTEGRITY’! Speaker Oboth Hails Retiring Archbishop Kaziimba

TORORO — Speaker of Parliament Jacob Oboth Oboth has hailed the outgoing Archbishop of the Church of Uganda, The Most Rev. Dr. Stephen Kaziimba Mugalu, as a beacon of integrity, accountability and selfless leadership, urging Ugandan leaders to emulate his example.

Oboth made the remarks Sunday during a farewell service for Archbishop Kaziimba held at St. Peter’s Cathedral in Tororo, where he praised the cleric for using his tenure to promote accountability and ethical leadership beyond the pulpit.

The Speaker said Kaziimba’s firm moral voice had given public leaders the courage to do what is right even when faced with difficult choices.

“For those entrusted with public responsibility, your firm moral voice has given us confidence to do what is right, even when it is difficult,” Oboth said.

He added: “You have reminded us that leadership is not simply about holding office but holding trust on behalf of the people and ultimately before God.”

Oboth traced Kaziimba’s journey from a humble Sunday school teacher and choir member to the Ninth Archbishop of the Church of Uganda, describing his rise, which Kaziimba famously refers to as moving “from grass to grace”, as a testimony to dedicated service.

The Speaker also commended the Archbishop for expanding the Church’s role in social development through education, healthcare, livelihood programmes and peacebuilding.

Kaziimba’s tenure was particularly highlighted for steering the Church towards clearing an impressive Shs60 billion debt owed on the Janani Luwum Church House, a development Oboth said demonstrated the importance of accountable stewardship.

As the farewell service unfolded, Archbishop Kaziimba used the occasion to deliver a strong message on national unity, urging Ugandans to abandon hypocrisy, hatred and division.

Kaziimba warned leaders and citizens against fighting one another, saying internal divisions could ultimately hurt the very people who may be needed in the future.

He used a football analogy to drive home his message, likening political and ecclesiastical infighting to scoring an “own goal.”

“We don’t need to fight each other; the person you are hurting may help you someday, and therefore you should all know that we need each other,” Kaziimba said.

He called for persistence, fairness and resilience, saying such values are critical if Uganda is to heal from divisions and move forward as a united nation.

The farewell service attracted a host of prominent religious and political leaders from across the Bukedi subregion.

Among those in attendance was the Catholic Archbishop of Tororo Ecclesiastical Province, Most Rev. Emmanuel Obbo, alongside other church and political leaders who gathered to honour Kaziimba’s contribution to the Church and the country.

The Tororo service forms part of Archbishop Kaziimba’s nationwide farewell tour as he prepares to officially hand over the leadership of the Church of Uganda next year.

As he approaches the end of his tenure, Kaziimba leaves behind a record marked by calls for integrity, accountability, social development and unity, while his farewell message has placed renewed focus on the need for Ugandans to stop treating one another as permanent enemies.