{"id":23777,"date":"2026-01-09T14:15:46","date_gmt":"2026-01-09T11:15:46","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/communications.amecea.org\/?p=23777"},"modified":"2026-01-09T14:15:46","modified_gmt":"2026-01-09T11:15:46","slug":"uganda-bishop-muhiirwa-calls-for-peaceful-free-and-fair-elections-in-uganda","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/communications.amecea.org\/index.php\/2026\/01\/09\/uganda-bishop-muhiirwa-calls-for-peaceful-free-and-fair-elections-in-uganda\/","title":{"rendered":"UGANDA: Bishop Muhiirwa Calls for Peaceful, Free, and Fair Elections in Uganda"},"content":{"rendered":"

Masereka Peter<\/em><\/p>\n

Rt. Rev. Robert Muhiirwa Akiiki, the Ordinary of Fort Portal Diocese, Uganda, has urged clerics, religious, and families to pray for a peaceful electoral process and called upon all election actors to uphold free and fair elections ahead of the 2026 general polls.<\/p>\n

Bishop Muhiirwa said this on the feast of Epiphany, 6 January 2026, in his homily while presiding over Holy Mass at Virika Cathedral in Fort Portal Diocese, where twelve Daughters of St. Theresa of the Child Jesus, commonly known as \u201cBanyatheresa Sister\u201d celebrated various jubilees and five professed their perpetual vows in the presence of their Superior General, Rev. Sr. Seraphine Kaitesirwa.<\/p>\n

Bishop Muhiirwa warned electoral actors against hate speech, sectarianism, and inciting violence. He encouraged everyone to pray for peace and harmony during and after the electoral exercise.<\/p>\n

Bishop Muhirwa said we pray for our nation that it may remain peaceful, especially during election periods. What is seen in the media is disappointing and creates fear and anxiety. Pray for peaceful elections so that justice, freedom, and harmony may prevail, calling for hope amid uncertainty, encouraging the people of God to remain hopeful and playful, starting at the family level.<\/p>\n

Bishop Muhiirwa also encouraged young people, with guidance from their parents, to join various Church lay apostolate movements, including Children\u2019s Missionary, Jesus Youth, Juniors of Mary, Junior CANA, and Young Christian Students (YCS). He noted that these movements help shape the future of the youth while strengthening their faith and commitment to Catholicism. He further asked the jubilarians to follow in their patron saint’s footsteps.\"\"<\/p>\n

To the jubilant, again the Prelate added that it is God\u2019s grace that has brought you this far. The Lord chose you, set you apart, and entrusted you with the sacred mission. Your lives are meant to be the visible sign of God\u2019s love for the world. You are channels of God\u2019s grace in a trebled world. Let the words spoken to Mary strengthen you always. Do not be afraid, for you have found favor with God; nothing is impossible with God.<\/p>\n

The Bishop of Hoima Diocese, Rt. Rev. Vincent Kirabo Amooti, in his address, urged the jubilarians to faithfully observe the vows they made before the altar of God, including poverty, obedience, and chastity, while remaining steadfast in prayer.<\/p>\n

The Superior General, Rev. Sr. Seraphine Kaitesirwa, commended the parents and guardians of the jubilarians for their support and for dedicating their daughters to Christ.<\/p>\n

Speaking on behalf of the jubilarians, Rev. Maama Mary Mukanyangezi Amooti, a golden jubilarian from Matimba Parish in Byumba Diocese, Rwanda, described their joy as an experience of light and deep prayer. She thanked everyone for journeying with them and for the continued support.<\/p>\n

From the Diocese of Kasese, Nsenyi Parish, Sr. Therese Kabugho, who also marked 50 years of religious life, encouraged the youth to discern and pursue various vocations to live exemplary lives. <\/strong><\/p>\n

The jubilarians included Sr. Petronella Banura Akiiki and Sr. Imelda Kakima Abwooli from Fort Portal Diocese, who celebrated their Platinum and Diamond Jubilees, respectively. Other golden jubilarians include Sr. Bernadine Kaminika from Kenya; Sr. Fidelis Nambasa of Kiyinda-Mityana Diocese; Sr. Victoria Nyanjura of Kitabu Parish, Diocese of Kasese; Sr. Rovina Turyazayo; Sr. Victoria Bogeza; and Sr. Restituta Mbabazi, all from Fort Portal Diocese. Two sisters celebrated their Silver Jubilee, while five made their perpetual vows, including Sr. Moreen Ayegyesibwe, the cashier of Kasese Cathedral Parish.<\/p>\n

END.<\/strong><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

Masereka Peter Rt. Rev. Robert Muhiirwa Akiiki, the Ordinary of Fort Portal Diocese, Uganda, has…<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":3,"featured_media":23778,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[9,17],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-23777","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-amecea-news","category-uganda"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/communications.amecea.org\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/23777","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/communications.amecea.org\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/communications.amecea.org\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/communications.amecea.org\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/3"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/communications.amecea.org\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=23777"}],"version-history":[{"count":1,"href":"https:\/\/communications.amecea.org\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/23777\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":23780,"href":"https:\/\/communications.amecea.org\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/23777\/revisions\/23780"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/communications.amecea.org\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/23778"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/communications.amecea.org\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=23777"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/communications.amecea.org\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=23777"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/communications.amecea.org\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=23777"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}