UGANDA

COLONISED BY BRITAIN (1885-1962) Winston Churchill dubbed Uganda “the pearl of Africa” for its breathtaking scenery. However, Uganda’s history is stained by violence. Uganda was colonized in 1885 by the British before gaining its independence with little struggle in 1962. Independence was followed by political conflict. Uganda suffered devastating political instability, genocide and economic failure under the rule of Milton Obote and General Idi Amin. It is estimated that during Idi Amin’s brutal reign, roughly 300,000 citizens were slaughtered. Milton Obote also claimed another 100,000 lives. These tragedies that occurred after independence have largely been blamed on British colonialism and their practices of ‘divide and rule’. In 1987, the Lord’s Resistance Army devastated Uganda with terror and violence. Led by Joseph Koni, this rebel group killed over 10,000 people and was known for capturing children to use as soldiers, porters, and sex slaves. President Yoweri Museveni came to power in 1986 and was re-elected for a sixth term in 2021. Moderate peace was achieved, and he introduced democratic reforms and improved human rights in Uganda. More recently, almost 800,000 South Sudanese have fled to Uganda - home to one of the world’s largest refugee camps (Bidi Bidi).

HOW DID CHRISTIANITY GET THERE? Christianity came late to Uganda compared with many other parts of Africa. Missionaries first arrived at the court of Kabaka Muteesa in 1877, almost a century after the missionary impetus from Europe had begun. And yet within 25 years, Uganda had become one of the most successful mission fields in the whole of Africa.

CHURCH TODAY: Uganda is mostly Christian (84%) and Muslim (14%). Public prayer is common even in government and judicial buildings, and many people attend church. Martyrs' Day is a national public holiday in Uganda on June 3rd. The day commemorates the 45 martyrs, both Catholic and Anglican, who were killed on the orders of Kabaka Mwanga II, then King of Buganda between 1885 and 1887.

PRAYER POINTS

• Pray for deep healing, repentance, restitution and restoration for the wounds caused by slavery and colonialism.
• Pray for restoration, peace and healing after many years of war and conflict. Pray for an outcome for the 800,000 displaced people who are forced to live in refugee camps.
• Pray that the Church and its leaders will be rooted in truth and not swayed by false teachings and cultural sins. That the church will be captured with a vision to make disciples of Uganda's many believers.
• Pray for righteous leaders in government and all spheres of society and for corruption to be rooted out.
• Pray for relief for the many poor people, especially for the destitute street children who are most numerous in Kampala.
• Pray that the church of Uganda will fulfil Jesus’ prayer from John 17: to be one with Him, the Father and the Holy Spirit.

PERSONAL REFLECTION

WEEKLY WORLDWIDE MORAVIAN WATCHWORD

O Lord, how manifold are Your works! In wisdom You have made them all. Psalm 104:24

PRAYER

Spirit of Grace, thy kindness we trace. Thank You for the outpouring of Your Holy Spirit, Lord. Thanks that it will embolden us to go forward in Your strength. Reveal to us Your Will so that we may proclaim Your Gospel as it ought to be proclaimed. Amen.