Bishop Seitz Hails Uganda's Hospitality in First African Visit to Mbarara

On his first trip to Africa, Bishop Mark Joseph Seitz of El Paso, Texas, visited the Uganda Martyrs Parish in Mbarara, Uganda, delivering a powerful sermon focused on unity, peace, and cultural understanding.Bishop Seitz, who leads a diocese at the US-Mexico border known for its work with migrants, expressed deep admiration for Uganda’s spirit of hospitality.

He praised the East African nation for welcoming people fleeing conflict in neighboring countries such as Rwanda, the Democratic Republic of Congo, and South Sudan.

“In times of trouble, Uganda has opened its arms to those in need. That is the heart of true Christianity,” Bishop Seitz said to a packed congregation.

His message centered on the need for unity across borders, cultures, and races, calling it a “divine call” in a world often divided by politics and prejudice.

The bishop emphasized that faith should not only unite believers spiritually but should also inspire practical acts of kindness and inclusion.

He drew parallels between his own community in El Paso, which regularly receives migrants from Latin America, and Uganda’s consistent efforts to shelter refugees over the years.

The congregation responded with applause and heartfelt appreciation.

Parish priest Fr. Joseph Tumusiime welcomed Bishop Seitz warmly, calling the visit “a blessing that has strengthened ties between the local Church and the wider global Catholic community.”

Bishop Seitz’s visit to Mbarara comes amid growing global concern about the treatment of migrants and the need for more compassionate responses to displacement.

His presence in Uganda, a country with one of the most generous refugee policies in the world, underscored the global Church’s message of solidarity and shared humanity