The Archbishop of the Church of Uganda, The Most Rev Dr. Stephen Samuel Kaziimba Mugalu, on Sunday 19th April 2026, while inaugurating Makerere Archdeaconry in the Diocese of Kampala, called for dialogue in times of disagreement instead of attacking each other publicly.
In making his case, he drew from Scripture and clearly stated that he preferred the approach of Nathan the Prophet over that of John the Baptist. This was not a careless remark. It was a parabolic approach to how truth should be communicated, especially to those in positions of authority.
Nathan in 2 Samuel 12:1 was a very prominent figure because of his proximity to King David. He had access to the King and unlike many other subjects who feared the King, Nathan had the privilege of speaking to him any time he wanted and to advise him especially on very critical issues that others feared. When David sinned, Nathan did not begin with accusation. He told a simple but powerful story that drew the king into reflection.
King David, despite being a man after God’s own heart, had abused his power, committed adultery with Bathsheba, and orchestrated the death of an innocent man. In such a situation, a direct accusation could have provoked anger, denial, or even violent retaliation. Instead of confronting David immediately, he tells a carefully crafted story about a rich man who unjustly takes a poor man’s only lamb. The story draws David into a position where he judges the situation without realizing he is judging himself.
When David reacts with outrage and declares that the rich man deserves punishment, Nathan delivers the turning point: “You are the man.” This statement is powerful not only because of its truth but because of its timing. By the time Nathan reveals the meaning of the story, David’s conscience has already been activated. The result was repentance, not resistance.
This is the model the Archbishop was pointing to. Nathan’s approach is not weakness. It is wisdom. It is strategy. It is engagement that produces results. It recognizes that transformation is deeper when a person arrives at the truth rather than when it is forced upon them. Even Jesus Christ taught in this way, using parables to reach the heart and mind.
On the other hand, John the Baptist represents a different kind of prophetic voice—direct, urgent, and uncompromising. When he confronted Herod Antipas in Matthew 14:3, he did so plainly. No story. No gradual engagement. Just truth. But what was the outcome? He was arrested and eventually executed. His message was true, but it closed the space for dialogue. Both approaches are biblical, but they serve different purposes. The wisdom lies in knowing which one fits the moment.
The Archbishop referenced the death of Archbishop Janani Luwum under Idi Amin and stated that he has a life to live. Is it a lie that he has a life to live? That he has a family? Does that really need to be debated by any right-thinking person? These are simple truths.
If you have a privileged position like Nathan, why then do you want to shout? Nathan had access. He used wisdom, timing, and understanding to bring about change. That is exactly what the Archbishop is doing. Since the end of last year’s general elections, he has been engaged in dialogue with the diplomatic community, the President, and the leadership of the National Unity Platform (NUP) to have political prisoners freed. This has yielded some fruits, including the release of some Deputy Presidents of the Party and others.
We are now heading into a broader national dialogue to ensure there is a win-win situation where all political prisoners are freed. It is not about why they were arrested. Let us have them out first and address those issues when they are enjoying their freedom. Let us not demoralize efforts that are already bearing fruit.
The peace of the Lord be with you.
