Former Archbishop Orombi Calls for Prayer, Not Campaigning, in Selection of Next Church of Uganda Leader
Former Archbishop Henry Luke Orombi has called on the faithful to prioritise prayer over campaigning in the selection of the next Archbishop of the Church of Uganda. Speaking at UCU's 27th graduation ceremony, he warned that politicking would produce a "half-cooked product of the devil," while prayer would raise a man after God's own heart.
LCC TV NEWS
MUKONO, UGANDA – In a poignant address delivered at the 27th graduation ceremony of Uganda Christian University (UCU), the former Archbishop of the Church of Uganda, the Most Rev. Henry Luke Orombi, made a fervent appeal to the faithful, urging them to prioritize prayer over politicking in the impending selection of the Church's next Archbishop .
Speaking as the guest of honour at the first part of the ceremony held on July 3, 2026, at the university's main campus in Mukono, Archbishop Orombi addressed the gathering with a solemn prayer request concerning the future leadership of the Church of Uganda . He noted that the Church is currently led by the ninth Archbishop, the Most Rev. Dr. Stephen Kaziimba Mugalu, who is constitutionally due to retire on August 14, 2027 .
At this juncture, Archbishop Orombi emphasized the critical need for divine guidance in choosing the tenth Archbishop. "And at this point, I also want to ask you to pray for the next Archbishop. This is Archbishop number nine and we are waiting for Archbishop number ten pretty soon," he stated. He drew a clear distinction between a spiritual and a worldly approach to the transition, cautioning against the dangers of personal ambition and campaigning. "I am not making any announcement, I am giving you a prayer request that if we pray, we will get a man of God. If we campaign, we will get a half-cooked product of the devil. So we had better pray that God will raise a man after His own heart to take over after our outgoing Archbishop" .
The former Archbishop's plea comes at a pivotal time for the Church of Uganda, which is known to be preparing for a major leadership transition . The process of electing a new Archbishop typically involves the House of Bishops convening to elect a successor to the outgoing Primate, who is required to retire upon reaching the age of 65 .
Archbishop Orombi's comments were made within the broader context of his keynote address to the 1,274 graduating students, where he challenged them to become ethical leaders and agents of positive change in society . He urged the new graduates to serve with dignity, reject corruption, and use their education to develop solutions for societal challenges . This graduation class was notable for its record-breaking 102 First Class Honours, a significant number of which were earned by female students, reflecting a broader call for excellence and integrity .
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