Connecting you to Uganda, East Africa

The LCMU: Basic Facts & Overview

The Lutheran Church Mission in Uganda (LCMU) is a young and energetic church body that has grown mightily thru the power of the Holy Spirit since it was planted in 1994 by the Evangelical Lutheran Church of Ghana (ELCG).   The LCMU does not yet have their own website but we’re pleased to offer this page of basic information until they do.

• The LCMU has over 75 congregations/preaching stations—some meet in buildings and some meet under mango trees but all belong to the Body of Jesus Christ!
• The leading congregation in Kampala meets in the white tent on the Lutheran Media Ministry Uganda grounds and has the flavor of an “international congregation” because worshipers hail from Uganda, Tanzania, Kenya, Zimbabwe, and other African nations.  You are welcome to visit any Sunday at 10:30 am.
• The LCMU can easily be considered a national church body since it has congregations in all 4 regions of the country: Northern, Eastern, Central and Western.  Significant clusters of congregations can be seen in the list below. The LCMU operates in 16 of the 78 districts in Uganda.  The LCMU works in 7 of the approximately 42 language groups in Uganda.
• The LCMU has the following seminary-trained-and-certified ordained pastors:
  • Rev. Charles Bameka
  • Rev. Moses Kodos Lokong
  • Jerome Wamala
  • Samuel Ogwang
  • Aaron Bamuwamge
• The LCMU has had three seminary trained-and-certified evangelists sent by the ELCG over the years, including: Evangelist Solomon (and Georgina) Ayagri, Rev. John Donkoh, and Rev. Isaac Gyampadu.
• The LCMU has many lay-leaders who lead worship and preach week-in and week-out.  Many lay-leaders are commissioned as evangelists and serve as pastors.  Two women serve as deaconesses.
• Many lay-leaders are trained on a monthly basis at one of 6 Mission Training Centers (MTCs) located in: Ibanda/Mbarara, Masindi, Lira, Amudat, Iganga/Jinja, and Kampala.  Lay-leaders who prove themselves at the MTC level may be nominated to receive advanced training thru Theological Education by Extension (TEE) which meets twice per month in Kampala and has a 2-year curriculum.  Successful completion of TEE qualifies a man to apply for seminary but many will continue to serve with distinction in their local context.
• The LCMU has 8 men studying at the seminary of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in Kenya (ELCK) in Matongo and 9 men at Lutheran Theological Seminary in Tshwane, Pretoria, South Africa.  Needless to say, we are eager for them to complete their studies and re-join the work.
• Lutheran Media Ministry Uganda (LMMU) is an affiliate of Lutheran Hour Ministries and enjoys a close, fraternal relationship with the LCMU.  The LMMU Director, Rev. Charles Bameka, is also the Vice President of the LCMU.
• The organization under which we serve, LCMS World Mission, has an informal partnership with the LCMU.
• The LCMU is by far and away the largest Lutheran church body in Uganda.  It also has the longest track-record.  (Others sometimes claim they were the first Lutherans in Uganda—also planted in 1994.  Such a claim only has merit if they admit they broke away from (or were sent away from) the LCMU.  Rest assured, the LCMU is the only Lutheran denomination in Uganda that can say it has enjoyed a continuous and unbroken relationship with the LCMS and the ELCG all the way back to 1994.)
• The “Delegate’s Conference” meets every 4 years and is the highest decision-making body in the LCMU.  The duly elected “Board of Directors” administers the work of the Church on an almost-monthly basis between sessions.  Current officers include:
  • Mr. Noah Isanga, President
  • Rev. Charles Bameka, Vice President
  • Mr. Elijah Rwanika, General Secretary
  • Mr. David Kulaba, Treasurer
  • Mr. Ronald Muyamba, Youth Representative
  • Mr. Fred Magezi, Southwestern Representative
  • Mr. Moses Yawe, Central Representative
  • Mr. Joshua Musitwa, Eastern Representative
  • Rev. Moses Kodos Lokong, Northeastern Representative
  • Mrs. Jane Byakutaaga, Women’s Representative
  • M/S Magdalene , Busia Representative
• Many Christians from Australia and USA have had meaningful relationships with the LCMU over the years—usually thru congregationally-based, short-term, teams.  This includes, in no particular order:
  • Friends Serving Uganda
  • Missions Made Possible
  • With God’s Little Ones
  • Messiah Lutheran, St. Charles, MO
  • Immanuel Lutheran, Brookfield, WI
  • Trinity Lutheran (Freistadt), Mequon, WI
  • Trinity Lutheran, Roselle, IL
  • Good Shepherd Lutheran Church, Para Vista, Australia
  • St. Luke’s, Nambour, Queensland, Australia
  • Gloria Dei Lutheran Church, Urbandale, Iowa
  • Vestavia Hills Lutheran Church, Alabama

Roster of Congregations & Preaching Centers

Transparency and accountability are watchwords among those in the LCMU.  As such, we are pleased to offer a roster of all LCMU congregations and preaching centers.  The bolded titles will guide you to the official administrative districts on your map of Uganda.  Those marked P/C are preaching centers.  I have personally visited 27 of these congregations since my arrival in November 2008.  (A college-aged volunteer missionary from Florida visited 40 in summer 2009 .)  I hope to reach all of them one day.

Iganga

• Bubogo Redeemer Lutheran Church
• St. Paul Bulumwaki
• Bunyiiro
• Kiboyo
• Ikumbya
• Bukobo
• Naigobya
• Nawandala P/C
• Buwolomera
• Nawansega P/C
• Nabidonga P/C in the center of town
• Nawaningi
• Bugono
• Namungalwe
• Bunangwe P/C
• Kabuli
• Nasuuti
• Bugobi
• Bulange
• Irenzi
• Nabyoto

Bugiri

• Nakavule
• Itakaibolu
• Izira
• Namaganza
• Naigoma
• Buduma-Nabidodo

Busia

• Nalwire
• Buhasaba
• Tororo church (Just recently formed and under Busia)

Mukono

• Katete

Kayunga

• Kaato
• Kitwe P/C
• Lukonda
• Kakiika P/C
• Kyamujumbi P/C

Mbarara

• Grace Lutheran Mbarara (in town)

Ibanda

• Trinity Lutheran, Ibanda (in town)
• Good Shepherd, Kemihoko
• Immanuel, Ishongororo

Kamwenge

• Mabale
• Miyola
• Besania (Bethany), Kinyamugala

Kiruhura

• Mushambya
• Bulemba
• Kazo 1
• Kazo 2

Jinja

• Jinja Trinity
• Mutai Nakabango
• Bufuula
• Mafubira P/C
• Lubanyi P/C

Kamuli

• Kamuli Lutheran Church
• Mbulamuti
• Gwase
• Bulopa
• Kitayunjwa
• Namagera
• Butagaya
• Kasambira P/C

Kampala

• Kampala Congregation

Masindi

• Masindi Town
• Kijambura
• Bigando
• Kigezi

Bulisa

• Nyamasoga
• Biisho

Lira

• St. Luke – Lira Town
• Good Shepherd Akia
• Olaka
• Ngetta

Gulu

• Gulu Lutheran Church

Amudat. This is a new District in the far east, created when the national government broke Nakapiripirit district in two.  This area had been under the auspices of the Northwestern Diocese of the ELCK (Evangelical Lutheran Church of Kenya) but was transferred to the LCMU in mid-2009.  This work centers around the Pokot people.

• Amudat (in town)
• Nabokotom
• Alakas
• Alapat
• Katabok
• Dingdinga
• Cherelachkoghin
• Chemokol
• Naborokocha
• Lopedot
  

A Final Word of Advice from Jacob

I’ve fielded many inquiries from Christians in developed countries who desire to get involved in Uganda.  I commend them for doing due diligence (those who don’t often end up with heartbreak).  There’s a steep learning curve when it comes to initiating and maintaining cross-cultural partnerships and I’m happy to share what I’ve learned.

• There may be up to 5 Lutheran church bodies in Uganda but not all should be considered legitimate.  Some have “self-appointed” bishops.  Some are not properly registered with the NGO Board.  Some exist on paper only.  But the LCMU is NOT like those just mentioned.  The LCMU is one of only two Lutheran church bodies in Uganda considered to be legitimate by the Lutheran Communion for Central and Eastern Africa (LUCCEA), a regional accrediting agency.  (The other Lutheran church body identified as legitimate is the Uganda Lutheran Church Foundation, ULCF).  Deal with anyone else at your own risk!
• Christians from developed countries should not take it upon themselves to “sponsor” or send money directly to any member or congregation of the LCMU.  Such a practice hinders the development of the Church in so many ways.  It fosters jealously, distrust, and reduces accountability to local leadership.  Again, please do not send money to Africa.  Instead, send it thru the Mission Board of your church body (e.g. LCMS World Mission).  They know who’s trustworthy and will ensure that 100% of your financial gift will reach the field and be applied in a way that will build up and NOT tear down the Body of Christ.
• Be leery of any phishing email and delete it immediately—especially one that purports to come from someone in the LCMU because pastors and congregations of the LCMU do not solicit funds.  Fraudulent emails have also been sent out by impersonators claiming some kind of emergency (e.g. health concern, robbed and stranded without a wallet, etc.) to trick you into a quick response.  Don’t fall for it.

Last updated September 2009