Dennis Zziwa, a second-year law student at Kampala International University, was rushed to Lamone Health Center after being injured during a Good Friday passion play. The incident occurred at Our Lady of Africa Church, where Zziwa was portraying Jesus Christ in the annual Way of the Cross reenactment. Witnesses said the dramatisation involved intense physical actions meant to depict the suffering of Jesus, which escalated beyond expected performance levels. Emergency responders from the Red Cross provided on-site first aid before transporting him for further care.
Zziwa remains under medical supervision as he recovers from the injuries sustained during the event. Church organisers have not issued a formal statement on the incident. The performance, meant to reflect religious devotion, has sparked discussion about the physical risks involved in live religious dramatisations. Safety protocols for such events are now under informal scrutiny among attendees and community members.
A university student playing Jesus ended up in hospital because the line between devotion and danger was ignored. Dennis Zziwa's injuries show that intense religious symbolism can become reckless without clear safety boundaries. When a passion play requires physical suffering, the organisers bear responsibility for preventing real harm. This incident may prompt churches to rethink how far performance should go in the name of faith.
