In a bold and heartfelt plea, the Archbishop of Canterbury, Justin Welby, has called upon the Anglican Church of Uganda to denounce the country’s newly implemented anti-LGBT law.
Speaking out against the legislation, Archbishop Welby stressed that no Anglican, regardless of their location, should support laws that contradict the fundamental Christian teachings of the Gospel.
The law, signed by President Yoweri Museveni in May, imposes life imprisonment for gay sex and even death penalty for “aggravated homosexuality,” including cases involving HIV transmission.
Expressing his deep concerns, Archbishop Welby sent a letter to Archbishop Stephen Kaziimba, the Primate of Uganda, expressing his “grief and dismay” over the church’s position. He emphasized that Anglicans should not condone such laws, as they contradict the resolutions, teachings, and principles of the Gospel that are shared within the Anglican Communion.
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In contrast to Welby’s plea, Archbishop Kaziimba welcomed the law in May, asserting that homosexuality was an imposition by “foreign actors” disguising themselves as human rights activists. The Church of Uganda estimates that around 36% of Uganda’s population, approximately 45 million people, identify as Anglicans.
The Anglican Communion, which spans 165 countries and encompasses millions of followers, remains deeply divided on issues such as the ordination of gay clergy and same-sex marriage.
The Ugandan church has played a prominent role within the conservative Global Anglican Future Conference (GAFCON), which expressed its loss of confidence in Archbishop Welby due to his support for the blessing of same-sex unions in churches.
In his statement, Archbishop Welby emphasized that this issue was not about imposing Western values but about upholding the Anglican commitment to treating every individual with care and respect as children of God.
As the debate continues, the hopes for a more inclusive and accepting future for Uganda’s Anglican community remain in the balance.
