Silver Mugisha Calls for Unity as St. Kagwa Fundraiser, Bweranyangi Cathedral Functions Coincide

Church Laity Leader Dr Eng. Silver Mugisha has called on Christians to embrace unity, mutual respect and ecumenism following the coincidence of two major church functions scheduled for October 25, 2026, urging believers to support both events without suspicion or division.

Mugisha’s appeal follows a statement by the Bishop of West Ankole Diocese, the Rt. Rev. Johnson Twinomujuni, regarding the scheduling of a fundraising function at St. Kagwa and an event marking the completion of Bweranyangi Cathedral, both of which are set to take place on the same day.

In his message to Christians and other faithful, Mugisha said the overlapping schedules resulted from independent planning processes and should not be interpreted as an act of rivalry, sabotage or ill intention between the church communities.

He emphasised that both functions serve the wider Christian community and should therefore be viewed as complementary efforts towards advancing the work of God rather than competing activities.

“This scheduling overlap is purely a coincidence of independent planning processes. It is absolutely not a result of rivalry, sabotage, or ill intention,” Mugisha said.

He added that the church should rise above divisions based on denominational traditions, noting that Christians share a common responsibility to promote the Gospel, serve their communities and strengthen the kingdom of God.

“There is no ‘theirs’ or ‘ours’ when we are working to advance the kingdom of God,” he said.

Mugisha cites Mbarara experience

To reinforce his appeal, Mugisha cited a similar situation in Mbarara, where two important church functions at Ruharo and Nyamitanga were held at the same time without creating conflict or division among the faithful.

He said he personally witnessed how the community embraced the two events with maturity, love and joy, demonstrating that different Christian gatherings can coexist peacefully even when they take place simultaneously.

According to Mugisha, the Mbarara experience offers a valuable lesson for Christians in the current situation, showing that overlapping church calendars need not become a source of suspicion or disagreement.

He urged believers to adopt the same spirit of understanding and cooperation, arguing that the success of one church function should not be perceived as a setback for another.

“We can easily do the same here,” he said, calling on Christians to demonstrate the maturity necessary to accommodate and support both gatherings.

Calls for bridge-building and peaceful coexistence

Mugisha challenged Christians and community leaders to prioritise dialogue, cooperation and reconciliation whenever circumstances threaten to create misunderstandings.

He said church leaders and believers should consistently pursue approaches that build relationships rather than weaken them, warning against allowing a coincidence of dates to generate unnecessary tensions.

“I humbly urge our good people to always pursue ways and mechanisms of building bridges rather than destroying them,” he said.

He stressed that the Christian mission of serving God and loving neighbours should take precedence over differences in church traditions, institutional affiliations or individual preferences.

Mugisha's message places particular emphasis on the responsibility of Christian leaders to foster an environment in which different churches can work together, support one another's development priorities and maintain cordial relationships.

He noted that the two functions should be seen as opportunities for collective Christian commitment rather than occasions for comparison or competition.

Invokes Scripture on Christian unity

To underscore his message, Mugisha quoted Ephesians 4:3, which calls on believers to preserve spiritual unity through peace.

“Make every effort to keep the unity of the Spirit through the bond of peace,” the scripture reads.

He said the biblical teaching offers guidance for handling situations that could otherwise divide Christian communities, urging believers to respond with love, patience and a willingness to accommodate one another.

The Church Laity Leader's appeal comes as both events prepare to take place on October 25, with his message seeking to ensure that the coincidence does not undermine the relationships between the congregations and their respective church leadership.

Mugisha contributes to both functions

In a practical demonstration of the unity he advocates, Mugisha revealed that he had personally contributed to both functions, following what he described as the example of generosity demonstrated by Bishop Twinomujuni.

He called on Christians and well-wishers to emulate this approach by supporting both initiatives according to their financial abilities.

Mugisha further encouraged those who receive invitations to the two functions to attend both where practical, while urging them to honour the invitations with goodwill and without feeling compelled to choose sides.

His position is that Christians can demonstrate solidarity with multiple church initiatives, even when the events coincide, by contributing resources, offering encouragement and maintaining mutual respect.

He said such gestures would send a strong message that the Christian community is united by a shared faith and purpose.

A call for ecumenism in West Ankole

Mugisha's statement highlights the importance of ecumenism—the promotion of cooperation and understanding among Christian churches and traditions—in maintaining harmony within the wider Christian community.

The coincidence of the St. Kagwa fundraising function and the Bweranyangi Cathedral completion event has presented an opportunity for church leaders and believers to demonstrate how unity can be maintained despite competing demands on time and resources.

Rather than allowing the scheduling overlap to create divisions, Mugisha wants Christians to use the occasion to reaffirm their commitment to peaceful coexistence, generosity and shared responsibility for church development.

He concluded by urging believers to stand together and demonstrate that two Christian functions can take place on the same day without hostility or competition.

“May love, respect, and unity prevail, and may God richly bless all our efforts,” Mugisha said.

His message reinforces the principle that the strength of the Christian community lies not in competition between its institutions, but in its ability to work together in advancing faith, service and the common good.