The Church of Uganda and LIFE International have officially partnered to strengthen family life and promote the sanctity of human life.
A Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) was signed at Namirembe Guest House in Kampala by The Most Rev. Dr. Stephen Samuel Kaziimba Mugalu, Archbishop of the Church of Uganda, and Chris Rookus, Vice President of LIFE International. The signing was witnessed by Rev. Canon William Ongeng, the Provincial Secretary of the Church of Uganda.
According to Rev. Simon Peter Ddembe Lya Yesu, Director of Mission and Outreach in the Church of Uganda, the partnership aims to equip church leaders across Uganda with essential skills and resources to support families and uphold human dignity.
“Through comprehensive training programs, mentorship, and resource development, this collaboration will integrate the message of the sanctity of human life into the Church of Uganda’s extensive network,” Rev. Ddembe Lya Yesu stated.
Speaking at the ceremony, Archbishop Kaziimba emphasized the significance of the partnership in advancing the Church’s mission to care for families and protect life at all stages.
“As the Church of Uganda, we are committed to promoting a biblical understanding of life and family. This partnership with LIFE International will equip our leaders to be life-givers in their communities, addressing both spiritual and practical needs. This is a great addition to our call for an end to abortion,” he said.
Chris Rookus, Vice President of LIFE International, expressed his enthusiasm for the collaboration, noting that it aligns with the organization’s mission to champion the value of every human life.
“We are honored to work alongside the Church of Uganda to foster a culture that values and protects human life. Through these training programs and ongoing mentorship, we hope to see a lasting impact in communities across Uganda,” Rookus remarked.
According to Rev. Barbara Mugisha, Provincial Family Life Coordinator for the Church of Uganda, the partnership has already launched two key training programs in Busoga Diocese which include Journey of a Life-Giver, Focuses on equipping participants to be sources of spiritual, emotional, and physical support and Redemptive Conversations, Provides guidance on offering compassionate responses to people facing crises.
The MOU outlines several collaborative initiatives, including: Conducting regional training sessions in five regions of Uganda (Central, East, West, North, and South), each accommodating up to 50 participants; Equipping Diocesan Mission Coordinators, selected clergy, lay readers, Mothers’ Union (MU), Fathers’ Union (FU), and Christian Women Fellowship (CWF) leaders with skills in biblical counseling, family support, and life-affirming ministry and Developing sustainable life-giving ministries within the Church of Uganda’s network to address community needs such as post-abortion healing and biblical sexuality education.
The agreement will be in effect for three years, with annual reviews to assess progress and ensure the sustainability of life-giving initiatives within the Church of Uganda.
