Winston Churchill dubbed Uganda “the pearl of Africa” for its breathtaking scenery. Located between Kenya and the Democratic Republic of Congo, Uganda is home to the lush paradise of the Bwindi Impenetrable National Park. Blessed with relatively fertile land, Uganda produces much of its own food, such as oranges, papayas, lemons, and pineapples. Yet amid such beauty and fruitfulness, Uganda’s history is stained by violence. Only recently have they begun to experience some long-desired stability and peace.Uganda was colonized in 1885 by the British before gaining their independence with little struggle in 1962. Unfortunately, this independence was followed by political conflict. In the 1970s, the country was torn apart by a horrific dictatorship. During Idi Amin’s brutal reign, roughly 300,000 citizens were slaughtered, and thousands of Asian citizens were expelled. 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 Museveni came to power in 1986 and was later elected five times in a row. But political corruption remains a reality to this day. More recently, almost 800,000 South Sudanese have fled to Uganda – home to one of the world’s largest refugee camps (Bidi Bidi). While many see Uganda as a safe haven in a war-torn region, 21% remain without safe drinking water and 87% without clean sanitation facilities. Ugandans also daily face the difficult realities that come with food scarcity and a lack of education opportunities and resources.

Uganda enjoys freedom of religion. The majority claim Christianity (85%), and Islam is the second largest religion (11%). Converts from Islam to Christianity often face persecution from other muslims and their family members. Sexual sins hold many captive, including polygamy and the LGBT movement. Yet these issues present an opportunity for the Ugandan Church to exemplify purity and godly marriages and homes. Nominalism, secularism, materialism, and a lack of unity continue to afflict the Body of Christ. Yet the Ugandan Church is large, and response to the Gospel has been substantial. Many ministries are providing aid to those in need while also sharing the Good News.