Uganda is a landlocked country in East Africa. It is located to the West of Kenya, to the South of South Sudan and to the East of Democratic Republic of the Congo. The name Uganda is derived from the Buganda kingdom of the Baganda Tribe. The Capital city is Kampala and the President of the Country since January 1986 is Yoweri Kaguta Museveni. The official Languages are English and Kiswahili, although very few people speak Kiswahili. Uganda has a population of about 42 Million. Christians make up about 85% of Uganda's population, Muslims 12%, and Others 3%.
THE BEGINING
Brothers from Kenya brought testimony of the New Apostolic doctrine to Uganda for the first time in Mawero Village, Tororo District in 1979. Shortly after the overthrow of Idd Amin Dada, Priest Johnstone Olukoye testified around Bugiri area on foot with a Megaphone announcing the re-establishment of Gods work of redemption and the coming of Apostles while John Mang’oli and his brother Simon Mang’oli testified in Tororo region. Over 100 souls attended a divine service on the Kenyan side and were sealed by Apostle Simon Anokoli. At the same time, Apostle Edward Deppner entered Uganda with some brothers through Rwanda border and established a congregation at Kabale in Western Uganda.
NEW APOSTOLIC CHURCH IN UGANDA TODAY
The Overall leadership of the New Apostolic Church in Uganda was placed under the District Apostle Joseph Opemba Ekhuya since 19th April 2015. Uganda has 5 active Apostles and 6 Bishops. Two of the Apostles are lead Apostles . The total membership is approximately 66,335 and is served by 1,410 ministers in 560 congregations. Majority of the members are children and youth.
COUNTRY OFFICE
The country office of the New Apostolic Church in Uganda is located in Kampala. The office employees provide administrative services to the Apostles and Rectors of districts and congregations. The main tasks of the country office include:-
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KEY MILESTONES OF GOD'S WORK IN UGANDA |
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1979 |
Brothers from Kenya brought testimony of the New Apostolic doctrine to Uganda for the first time in Mawero Village, Tororo District. Over 100 souls attended divine service on the Kenyan side and were sealed by Apostle Simon Anokoli. |
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1980 |
Apostle Anokoli conducted the first New Apostolic Church divine service on the Ugandan soil. Many souls from Tororo District were sealed and three priests were ordained to take care of the first congregations.
Apostle Edward Deppner entered Uganda with some brothers through Rwanda border and established a congregation at Kabale in western Uganda. |
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1982 |
Apostle Wilbert Vovak visited Uganda for the first time and established several sub-districts. Many souls were sealed in Bukhaliha congregation and also appointed a rector. |
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Deacon Mang’oli conducted the first divine service in Kampala city. The same year Apostle Walter Parry from Kenya visited Kampala, Uganda but could not hold divine services because the church was not yet registered with government authorities. In some other parts of the country, Apostle Njuguna from Kenya was able to establish some congregations. |
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1985 |
Apostle Walter Parry conducted a divine service at the Speke Hotel lobby in which 32 souls were sealed and Edward Seruuma ordained to the priest ministry. |
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1986 |
Shepherd Kiboba (Rwanda) and Priest Deppner (now District Apostle, DRC Congo West) established the Lord’s work in Mbarara and Masaka. |
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1989 |
District Elder Edward Seruuma was ordained as the first Ugandan Apostle by Chief Apostle Fehr in Zaire (now DRC Congo) on 03 December 1989 |
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1993 |
Three brothers were ordained to Apostle Ministry in a divine service in Esslingen, Germany on 14 February 1993 to take care of Uganda. These were; Francis Webisa, Albert Muzaale and James Kimera. The Lord’s work blossomed through the activity of the four apostles. |
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1995 |
On 20th August, goes into the records of history as the first time a Chief Apostle stepped on Ugandan soil, the pearl of Africa. The Chief Apostle Fehr conducted a divine service in Kampala and ordained Richard Kavuma to the Apostle Ministry. |
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2000 |
Apostle Kolb (now District Apostle, USA) was commissioned as District Apostle Helper and was made responsible for Uganda |
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2001 |
Pius Bitayi was ordained to Apostle Ministry by Chief Apostle Richard Fehr in Nairobi, Kenya on 28 January 2001 |
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2002 |
Francis Walufu Mwesigwa was ordained to Apostle Ministry in Johannesburg, South Africa on 19 May 2002 by Chief Apostle Richard Fehr. |
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2007 |
Chief Apostle Leber announced the creation of East Africa Disrict Apostle District and commissioned Apostle Shadreck Mundia Lubasi as District Apostle Helper in Dar es Salaam, Tanzania. He was to assist the District Apostle Richard Freund (USA) in leading the church in the three countries of East Africa namely, Kenya, Tanzania and Uganda. |
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2009 |
On 29th March, in a divine service held in Kampala, Chief Apostle Wilheim Leber ordained District Apostle Helper Shadreck Mundia Lubasi to the District Apostle ministry and charged him with the responsibility to care for God’s children in East Africa. |
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2011 |
Yohonan Byoona was ordained to Apostle Ministry in a divine service in Mwanza, Tanzania on 14 August 2011 by Chief Apostle Wilheim Leber. |
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2013 |
On 14 July 2013, during a Divine Service by Chief Apostle Jean-Luc Schneider conducted in Kampala Uganda, the Chief Apostle commissioned Apostle Joseph Opemba Ekhuya from Kenya as District Apostle Helper. He was to assist the District Apostle Shadreck Lubasi in leading the church in East Africa. |
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2016 |
From 20th July 2016 to 24th July 2016, the Chief Apostle Jean Luc Schneider visited Uganda for the second time. On Friday 22nd July, he held a divine service for ministers and their wives and on Sunday 24th July he conducted a festive divine service for all. |
| 2019 | On 31st March 2019, Chief Apostle Jean Luc Schneider conducted a divine service In Kampala at Imperial Royale Hotel. 40th Anniversary of the church in Uganda was celebrated. |