Munyonyo Martyrs Shrine on Sunday chose a Poland national and parish priest of Munyonyo to depict Jesus and ride on a donkey as Christian faithful in the area marched to mark Palm Sunday.
When the Church and Media uploaded images of the proceedings, many commented with outrage saying:âCouldnât they find a black Jesus.â Others said the event was symbolic of idol worship.
The race has been a topic of discussion since the days of early Christianity.
Racial
Bible scholars insist the New Testament includes no descriptions of Jesusâ appearance before his death and that the Gospel narratives are generally indifferent to peopleâs racial appearance or features.
Nevertheless, many people have a mental image of Jesus drawn from artistic depictions.
A wide range of depictions have appeared over the two millennia since Jesusâs death, often influenced by cultural settings, political circumstances and theological contexts.
Colonialism
Social media user under account name, Damulira William said: âWhy muzungu (White man), funny Africans, they think everything good should be white.â
âWhy is it that a white has to be Jesus. We are still locked back to colonialism,â  Vicente Johnsons remarked.
Jemima Zaabu said, âCouldnât they find a black Jesus? We have been brain washed! He had to be white in a sea of black faces!â
Commandment
Kahunde Abwooli K Hilda said, âBreaking the very first commandmentâŠ..this is worshiping a human being.â
Other Christians however condemned the âracialâ comments.
Ssemambo Peter said, âI have failed to understand exactly whatâs wrong with a white Priest to ride a donkey. According to Matt 28:19 Jesus commanded his Apostles to make disciples of all nations. I havenât seen anywhere that whites are exclusive.â