Former Archbishop of the Anglican Church of Uganda Stanley Ntagali has been suspended from carrying out any church duties after he was caught cheating on his wife with a married woman.
In a letter dated January 13 letter, Archbishop of the Church of Uganda Stephen Samuel Kaziimba Mugalu confirmed Ntagali’s suspension to the Anglican Bishops under the Global Anglican Future Conference (GAFCON).
“It is with a very heavy heart that I inform you that my predecessor, retired Archbishop Stanley Ntagali, has been involved in an extra-marital affair with a married woman, which he has acknowledged. This adultery is a grievous betrayal on many levels. Retired Archbishop Ntagali has betrayed his Lord and Saviour, his wife and their marriage vows, as well as the faith of many Ugandans and global Christians who looked to him to live the faith he proclaimed,” the letter reads in part.
Kaziimba further notes that Ntagali betrayed the Office of Archbishop, his ordination vows, and the moral commitments he championed.
“The Church of Uganda has approximately 13 million members, all of whom have ‘sinned and fallen short of the glory of God,’ as the Bible says in Romans 3.23. At the same time, the Church holds its leaders more accountable to the same standards we are all called to uphold,” he says.
He reveals that he has informed Ntagali that he is not permitted to function sacramentally, preach, or represent the Church of Uganda in any way until further notice. Kaziimba assures the Church that they are committed to transparency as well as pastoral care for those who have been affected by this situation.
The Archbishop says that Church of Uganda continues to uphold marriage as a lifelong, exclusive union between one man and one woman and that adultery is as immoral as homosexuality and that they will not shy away from their commitment to this moral standard.
Kaziimba further warns that if there are any church structures that have enabled such behaviour to be covered up, they are committed to identifying them and repenting of systems that protect abusers and harm victims.
“No one is above God’s law. We call on all who have fallen short of this standard to go before the Lord in prayer and confess your sin, repent of your ways, and make restitution to those you have hurt,” he says.
Ntagali served as 8th Archbishop of the Church of Uganda and handed over office to Kaziimba on March 1, 2020 after clocking the retirement age (65).