The Death of Repentance: How Silent Pulpits Are Failing Uganda's Soul

 I have met with university students and other young people across Uganda and made a troubling discovery: while most Ugandans still believe sin exists, far fewer are willing to admit they themselves are sinners. Through engagements with Christian Unions and mission teams on campus, a clear pattern emerged.

These conversations expose a troubling reality—our culture has grown comfortable acknowledging sin in the abstract while denying its personal weight. This disconnect, many experts argue, is the direct fruit of years of silence from Ugandan pulpits.

That silence is measurable. My own research suggests that as few as 5% of sermons from major urban pastors in Uganda directly address sin. When the church avoids its most foundational truth, the people it serves inevitably lose sight of their need for repentance and salvation. We are now watching the consequences play out on a national scale.

The numbers are devastating. I am convinced that over 90% of Ugandans affirm that sin is real. Yet among born-again Christians, only 60% confess to being sinners. Among Protestants, that number falls to 55%. Among Catholics, it is just 40%. And among non-Christians, a mere 25%. The conclusion is inescapable: Ugandans know sin exists in theory, but most refuse to see it in the mirror.

The Church's Silence on Sin

Churches have suppressed the truth about sin for fear of offending, and the results are catastrophic. The purpose of the church is to teach God's ways—not to entertain, to placate, or to tickle ears. But when only a sliver of sermons address the reality of sin, people are left ignorant of their deepest need.

The Bible doesn’t whisper about sin; it shouts. From Genesis to Revelation, the narrative of redemption is meaningless without it. Adam and Eve’s rebellion, Israel’s idolatry, the prophets’ constant warnings, and Christ’s death on the cross all center on one undeniable truth: humanity is lost in sin and in desperate need of a Savior. Remove sin from the equation, and you no longer have Christianity. You have a hollow, religious shell that denies its own power.

The Comfortable Lie of “Basic Goodness”

As of 2025, while many admit sin exists, the vast majority still cling to the belief that people are “basically good at heart.” This includes 80% of born-again Christians. Among Catholics, that number rises to 90%. But Scripture paints a far darker—and more accurate—picture: “There is none righteous, no, not one” (Romans 3:10).

To claim people are “basically good” is to dismiss the depth of our rebellion against God. It is a soothing lie that allows us to excuse disobedience while feeling morally upright. This is a cultural comfort, a dangerous strategy that minimizes the seriousness of sin. By avoiding the truth, we are not sparing feelings—we are endangering souls.

The National Consequences

This is not merely about individual faith. The consequences of silent pulpits are manifest across Ugandan society. If people do not see themselves as sinners, they see no need for repentance. Without repentance, there is no perceived need for a Savior. And without a Savior, the cross becomes an empty symbol, and the church is reduced to a social club with hymns.

The cultural decay we witness is not accidental. Family breakdown, rising lawlessness, and the erosion of moral clarity on issues of life, gender, and truth are the direct fruits of a church that no longer confronts sin. When the watchmen remain silent, the city burns.

The Path Back

But it is not too late. Sin is not a difficult concept to understand. What is needed is courage—courage from pastors to preach the whole counsel of God, courage from parents to teach their children about sin and grace, and courage from believers to admit, “I am a sinner in need of a Savior.”

Reintroducing sin into our national conversation may sound harsh in an age that prizes self-esteem, but it is the most loving act the church can offer. To tell a sinner he is “basically good” is like telling a terminal cancer patient he is healthy. The disease will still be fatal. But to speak the truth—to say, “You are sick, but there is a cure”—is to offer real life.

A Call to Repentance

Uganda is reaping the bitter harvest of pulpits that refused to preach the truth. When churches neglect the subject of sin, people may still believe in its existence, but they will never apply it to themselves. When people no longer see their personal need for forgiveness, they see no need for Christ.

The solution remains the same as it always has: repentance. The church must return to its mission of proclaiming sin, judgment, grace, and forgiveness. If we want revival in this land, it will not come through clever marketing or cultural relevance. It will come through brokenness, confession, and the blood of Christ.

The time for silence is over. The time for soft sermons is past. Uganda's hope lies not in pretending we are “basically good,” but in bowing low before a holy God and admitting the truth: we are sinners, in desperate need of a Savior.

May God Bless us all for His Glory, 

SILAS ORIOKOT, 

President, Rising Point for Christ

Email: oriokotsilas.praywithme@yahoo.com

Phone: +256787353534