Gulu — The Gulu Archdiocese has suspended the joint Way of the Cross that had been scheduled for Friday, April 3, 2026, in Gulu City, citing doctrinal differences with other Christian denominations.
The decision brings to a halt a decades-old ecumenical tradition that has seen Catholics, Anglicans, and Orthodox Christians unite annually on Good Friday to commemorate the suffering, sacrifice, and crucifixion of Jesus Christ.
The announcement was made on Wednesday, April 1, 2026, by Monsignor Cyprian Ocen P'Akech, the Parish Priest of Gulu Cathedral Parish and Episcopal Vicar for Gulu Vicariate, following a letter reportedly written by the Gulu Archdiocese Archbishop Raphael P'Mony Wokorach.
Monsignor Ocen delivered the message at St. Joseph's Cathedral during catechesis prayers presided over by the Archbishop.
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Monsignor Ocen clarified that the Archdiocese has not stopped the Way of the Cross prayers entirely, but only the joint celebration involving other denominations such as the Northern Uganda Diocese and the Orthodox Church.
"Firstly, the Archbishop hasn't stopped the prayers for the Way of the Cross... what has been stopped is the joint Way of the Cross where Catholics and other denominations participate together in carrying the cross," he told the congregation.
He emphasized the need for Catholics to understand and preserve their traditions, noting that differences in doctrine among Christian denominations make joint participation problematic.
Monsignor Ocen challenged the commonly held belief that all prayers are the same, arguing that doctrinal differences shape how various churches practice their faith.
"Not all prayers are the same. It is important for Christians to understand why there are doctrinal differences," he said, tracing the historical roots of these divisions to the Protestant Reformation associated with Martin Luther.
He highlighted key differences between Catholic and Protestant practices, including the significance of the sign of the cross, the centrality of the Holy Eucharist, and the sacrament of penance, which some denominations do not share with the Catholics.
Monsignor Onen defended the Catholic practice of confession to a priest, which other denominations don't believe in, stating that although priests are human, they act in the person of Christ and are guided by the Holy Spirit in administering sacraments.
However, the Vicar General of the Archdiocese, Monsignor Martin Agwee, downplayed the suspension and declined to comment directly on the matter.
"Do you have the circular written by the Archbishop? I don't have to comment on it, please don't put me, I don't want to comment," Monsignor Agwee told this reporter when contacted.
Pressed further, he referred this reporter to local church authorities, saying, "Contact your nearby parish where you pray."
Uganda Radio Network has since understood that the way of the cross has been decentralized in each of the parishes within the Archdiocese.
The Bishop of Northern Uganda Diocese, Rt Rev Godfrey Loum, however, told Uganda Radio Network in an interview on Thursday that the Anglican Church had not been formally informed about the decision to suspend the joint event.
"Unfortunately, I did not get any official communication, and so I cannot really determine what they think about this or what their plan is," Bishop Loum said in an interview.
Bishop Loum noted that while the joint public Way of the Cross has been held for years by the three major denominations, recent internal reflections, particularly around managing large crowds, had raised concerns.
Despite this, Bishop Loum emphasized that there had been no prior agreement among the churches to split the event.
"...It was not our intention. We would have loved to continue doing it together, but we would have preferred to sit down and determine how it should be done, especially if we are to operate in smaller groups and how should it be done but that was lacking. There is nothing wrong with that, we will continue and do it the way we will see it, and then we shall do an evaluation later to determine how we will go forward," he added.
The bishop downplayed suggestions that doctrinal differences were the primary cause of the split, pointing instead to the long-standing ecumenical cooperation among churches under the Uganda Joint Christian Council.
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"...It is not an issue of doctrine because there is an ecumenical arrangement that brings together the Anglican Church, the Orthodox, and then the Roman Catholic church; there is an umbrella at the national level called Uganda Joint Christian Council. So yes, we are aware of some differences between us, but there are many factors that bring us together. It was not an issue of doctrine, at least from our side," said Bishop Loum.
Bishop Loum urged calm among the faithful, noting that the Anglican Church would proceed with its own Way of the Cross in smaller groups while remaining open to all Christians.
One of the Christians in Bardege-Layibi Division, who preferred anonymity due to what she describes as the sensitivity of the matter, viewed the suspension as a setback to Christian unity in the Sub-region.
The joint Way of the Cross in Gulu city has for years attracted thousands of Christians from different denominations who march across the streets of Gulu city, symbolizing unity despite theological differences.
