By Kabuye Ronald
The Presiding Bishop of the Antiochian Orthodox Catholic Church (AOCC), Jacinto Kibuuka, has issued a strong call for empathy and moral renewal, sharply condemning rising lawlessness and a recent gruesome attack that claimed the lives of four children.
Delivering his Easter message during the Way of the Cross healing and deliverance prayers at Mamre International Prayer Centre in Namugongo, Janda, Kira Municipality, Wakiso District, Bishop Kibuuka urged Ugandans to embrace compassion and reject selfishness.
His remarks come in the wake of a horrifying incident in which a man identified as Christopher Okello, allegedly posing as a parent, carried out a brutal machete attack at Gaba Early Childhood Development Program, killing four children. The attack has sparked widespread grief and outrage across the country.
“God should have mercy upon us and the entire country due to many acts of lawlessness,” Bishop Kibuuka said. “People are betraying others, becoming selfish, and losing empathy for one another. We strongly condemn the act of the man who stabbed four innocent children to death. It was a heartless and tragic act that has left the nation in tears.”
The bishop warned that increasing violence in society is often fueled by substance abuse, particularly drug use and excessive alcohol consumption. He cautioned that such behaviors contribute to domestic violence and broader criminal tendencies.
Bishop Kibuuka further called upon religious leaders, cultural institutions, political figures, and heads of families to take responsibility in fostering unity and moral discipline. He urged them to use the Easter season as a time to promote peace, responsibility, and harmonious coexistence.
“As we commemorate Easter, let it be a turning point for all of us to reflect on our actions and restore love, empathy, and respect in our communities,” he added.
The Bishop’s message resonates at a time when concerns over public safety and moral decay are increasingly at the forefront of national discourse, with many hoping that the Easter season will inspire a renewed commitment to shared values and humanity.
