By Clare
The Archbishop of Mbarara, Most Rev. Lambert Bainomugisha, has called on Catholics to reject tribalism, rivalry and divisions, urging Christians from the five dioceses of the Mbarara Ecclesiastical Province to strengthen their unity and remain committed to proclaiming the Gospel.
Archbishop Bainomugisha made the call while presiding over the annual Mbarara Ecclesiastical Province Association (MEPA) pilgrimage at the Uganda Martyrs Shrine in Namugongo on Monday, November 9, 2026. He represented Bishop Vincent Kirabo, who was unable to attend due to ill health.
Preaching under the theme “Be My Witnesses,” the Archbishop challenged pilgrims to draw inspiration from the Uganda Martyrs, whose faithfulness to Christ remained firm even in the face of death.
He described the five dioceses of Mbarara, Kabale, Fort Portal, Hoima and Kasese as five lamps placed on one table, each carrying its own light but collectively producing greater illumination when brought together.
He emphasized that the dioceses are not competitors but members of one Church with a shared mission of building God’s Kingdom, warning that tribalism, gossip, rivalry and divisions should never define the identity of God’s people.
Reflecting on the Christian journey, Archbishop Bainomugisha observed that life comes with challenges, including sickness, family struggles, misunderstandings, temptations and disappointments, but encouraged believers to remain steadfast because they do not walk alone.
He further challenged Christians to make their faith visible through their everyday actions, noting that being witnesses of Christ goes beyond religious gatherings to include how people conduct themselves in their families, workplaces, schools, public offices and communities.
He urged parents to raise their children with strong moral and Christian values, young people to resist dishonesty and negative peer pressure, businesspeople to practise honesty, and public servants to reject corruption and the misuse of public office. He also called on priests and religious to demonstrate holiness and service, stressing that people are more likely to embrace Christianity when the lives of believers reflect their preaching.
The Archbishop also called for greater cooperation among the dioceses in evangelization, healthcare, vocation promotion and caring for the poor, emphasizing that no individual diocese or Christian community can accomplish the Church’s mission alone.
The call for stronger Christian families was further echoed by other Church leaders who addressed the pilgrims.
Parents reminded of these cardinal role
The Bishop of Fort Portal Diocese, Rt. Rev. Robert Muhiirwa, urged parents to take their responsibility of raising children seriously, criticizing those who send their children to boarding schools at an early age as a way of escaping their parental duties.
Bishop Muhiirwa stressed that parents must remain actively involved in shaping their children’s moral and spiritual lives rather than leaving the responsibility entirely to schools.
His counterpart in Kasese Diocese, Rt. Rev. Francis Kibira, described the family as the foundation of the Church, reinforcing the importance of strong family values in nurturing committed Christians.
Bishop Emeritus of Kabale, Rt. Rev. Callistus Rubaramira, also appealed to parents not to grow weary of bringing up their children in faith, while the Bishop of Kabale, Rt. Rev. Bonaventure Bosco Gubazire, thanked the faithful who supported his episcopal inauguration in October.
Meanwhile, the Vicar General of Hoima Diocese, Msgr. Robert Mugisa Abooki, thanked Archbishop Bainomugisha for his support and commended the ecclesiastical province for its continued growth in faith and unity.
Minister urges meaningful naming
Bunyoro Affairs Minister Mary Grace Mugasa also challenged parents to be mindful of the names they give their children and encouraged families to teach young people their local languages as a way of preserving cultural identity.
The annual pilgrimage, which brings together Catholics from the five dioceses of the Mbarara Ecclesiastical Province, was animated this year by Hoima Diocese through the Hoima External Residents Association (HOIDERA).
Kabale Diocese is expected to animate the next annual MEPA pilgrimage.