Kampala Uganda

Kampala (pronounced kahm-PAH-lah) is the capital of Uganda and has a population of approximately 2-3 million people. This city covers many of the hills on the northern shores of Lake Victoria. As with many rapidly developing cities, traffic and congestion are a major challenge. Sixty-six percent of the people claim to be Christian; this includes Catholics and Anglicans. However, many are Christians in name only. There are large segments of Muslims, Hindus and Bahais who give evidence of a non-Christian influence here. African traditional religion, however, tends to lay right below the surface of many believers. Ancestor worship, witchdoctors and fetishes can be seen in and around the city. There are approximately 25 Baptist churches in the Baptist Union of Uganda that minister within Kampala and in the surrounding areas. There are currently eight Celebration Services that meet in different zones across the city. These congregations are made up of those who attend the nearly 50 weekly house churches in these same areas. Since Kampala is a city made up of pockets of at least 43 different tribes, these church ministries vary. Many of the legacy churches and new church plants have services in Luganda, Lwo, Acholi, English and even Swahili. There are ministries to students, orphans and AIDS victims. Some churches are nestled in the middle of little communities and have village-type services with drums, “adungus” (stringed instruments) and guitars. All are ministering to their community, but there are still many areas that have no work at all. Please pray for the evangelization of the people of Kampala.

God is at work in a mighty, mighty way in Kampala, Uganda. Evidence of His power and love are seen daily in the faces of those who were once hopeless, but now have hope in the one true God. Kampala is a place of great abstracts, with extreme beauty next to extreme poverty. One minute you can be walking through a beautiful green garden, and right next door you can be walking through waste, trash and mud. It is in these hopeless areas that witchdoctors or traditional healers find their victims. These people thrive on fear, hopelessness and the poor. Just last month, another human sacrifice was discovered in Kampala. A woman lost her life so that another person could find favor with his ancestors and find a job. Please pray that those who practice such evil and those who purchase their evil ways will see that the Lord is the God of this city! Pray that the witchdoctors will lay down their fetishes, potions and need to sacrifice to a false being. May God be glorified in these dark areas so that He may bring them into the light.