Orthodox priest urges leaders to serve with integrity and respect people’s rights

6 April 2026, 10:53 am

By Edwin Okurmu Kisa

All leaders in the country are encouraged to rely on God so that He may guide them to govern effectively, respect people’s rights, and find joy in their leadership.

Father Dimitrios Ssendijja, who heads St. Anthony Orthodox Church in Wamala, Nansana Municipality, spoke to our reporter, urging leaders not to take the law into their own hands or abuse the authority entrusted to them. Instead, he said, they should use their power to serve and guide God’s people faithfully, offering service in the hope of receiving a reward from God.

He further called on leaders to govern with love, honesty, and respect, emphasising that a true leader must uphold the dignity of those they lead, as leadership is given by God according to His will.

Father Dimitrios also condemned the growing praise of wrongful actions in society. He noted that individuals who engage in such acts are often described as “clever,” which he warned is a dangerous mindset. He encouraged people to focus on actions that build the nation and glorify God.

In the same message, he urged young people to use social media responsibly and positively, rather than engaging in inappropriate behaviour for the sake of fame.

He also addressed the Resurrection of Jesus Christ, explaining the difference in its observance in the Orthodox Church compared to other Christian denominations. He noted that Catholics and other Western Christians follow the Gregorian calendar, while the Orthodox Church adheres to the older Julian calendar. As a result, Orthodox Easter (Pascha) is often celebrated later than Western Easter.

Father Dimitrios further explained that the Orthodox Church strictly observes the decision of the Council of Nicaea in 325 A.D., which mandates that Easter be celebrated after the Jewish Passover. This rule can result in a later date than in Western churches, which do not always follow it strictly. While the dates sometimes coincide, differences in calendar systems and calculations often mean Orthodox Easter falls one or more weeks later.

He emphasised that the Orthodox Church maintains these traditions to preserve the faith as practised by the early Church. Altering the method of calculating Easter would, he said, mean abandoning the rules established by the early Church councils, which Orthodox theology regards as essential to remaining faithful to the original Christian tradition.

Father Dimitrios added that in 2026, the Orthodox Church will celebrate the Resurrection of Jesus Christ on Sunday, 12 April.