The first female appointed Archbishop of Canterbury, Dame Sarah Mullally, the Bishop of London, faces rejection from the Anglican Church in Uganda, among other major Anglican bodies in the world.
In a statement, the head of the Church of Uganda publicly rejected Mullally’s appointment, citing concerns over her progressive stance on sexuality and departure from what they describe as the historic biblical teachings of the church.
Church of Uganda’s Strong Reproach
In a statement issued on October 3, 2025, Archbishop Stephen Samuel Kaziimba Mugalu of Uganda expressed his disappointment with the appointment, saying it represented a deliberate move by the Church of England to distance itself from the global Anglican community.
“This appointment is a deliberate attempt by the highest levels of the Church of England to separate itself from the vast majority of the global Anglican Communion,” Archbishop Kaziimba said.
He noted that the new Archbishop’s advocacy for same-sex marriage was “unbiblical and contrary to the authority of Scripture.”
The Ugandan Church, he added, no longer recognises the Archbishop of Canterbury as having any spiritual authority within the Communion.
“We will not participate in the Lambeth Conference under the leadership of the Primate of All England,” he declared.
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Kaziimba reaffirmed Uganda’s commitment to the Global South Fellowship of Anglicans and Gafcon, which he said continues to uphold the “historic faith handed down by the saints.”
Gafcon Denounces the Appointment of the Sarah Mullally
The Gafcon Primates Council, chaired by Archbishop Laurent Mbanda of Rwanda, echoed similar sentiments in a letter to its members.
The council said the appointment of Bishop Mullally “abandons global Anglicans” and further divides an already fractured Communion.
“The Church of England has chosen a leader who will further divide an already split Communion,” Mbanda wrote.
He accused the Church of England of “failing to guard the faith” and said the decision reflected Canterbury’s surrender of moral authority.
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“Canterbury has relinquished its authority to lead. The rest of our beloved Communion is now in the hands of Gafcon,” he stated.
Growing Rift in the Anglican Communion
Gafcon also announced plans for a Global Bishops’ Assembly (G26) scheduled for March 2026 in Abuja, Nigeria, to strengthen orthodox Anglican unity.
The group reaffirmed its 2023 Kigali Commitment, which declared that the Archbishop of Canterbury could no longer be recognized as an “Instrument of Communion.”
The controversy surrounding Bishop Mullally’s appointment has reignited long-standing tensions between liberal and conservative Anglican provinces, particularly over issues of marriage and sexuality.
“The leadership of the Anglican Communion will pass to those who uphold the truth of the gospel and the authority of Scripture in all areas of life,” Gafcon emphasised.
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