The Christian man using education to make disciples in Uganda

I was just seven years old when soldiers under Idi Amin’s regime arrested my father. He was a pastor in a small village in Luweero, Central Uganda, and during that time, Christians were seen as a threat to Amin’s rule. His government persecuted believers, arresting, torturing, and even killing those who stood firm in their faith. My father was one of those victims. I remember the fear that gripped our community as we lived under the constant threat of military violence. The bush war tore families apart, destroyed homes, and claimed the lives of thousands. It was in this dark and oppressive environment that I first encountered Jesus.

Despite the hardships, I was raised in a Christian family. My parents faithfully taught me about God, and at primary school, through the Scripture Union, I gave my life to Christ at the age of fifteen. By then, the war had ended, but we were still struggling. My parents could barely afford to keep me in school. Like many Ugandan children, education felt like a luxury, not a guarantee. I was fortunate to complete secondary school, but when it came time for higher education, it seemed out of reach — my family simply couldn’t afford it.

Once again, God provided. In 1994, I was offered a bursary at Kiwoko Hospital, a Christian medical facility, where I enrolled in their nursing programme and later trained as a pharmacist. But Kiwoko was more than a hospital — it was a place with a heart for mission. I began preaching the gospel to patients and staff, and on weekends, we traveled to nearby villages to share the good news.

Yet something troubled me. While many people were giving their lives to Christ, there was little follow-up to help them grow in their faith. The local churches were overwhelmed, and most pastors lacked the training to disciple new believers effectively. It was like planting seeds but never watering them. I wanted to help, but I wasn’t sure how.

In 2005, God opened another door for me to attend the Kampala Evangelical School of Theology (KEST). It was there that I realized the pastors in our villages didn’t lack passion — they lacked training. They had the heart to lead, but not the tools. Even before I graduated, I knew I had to do something about this. That’s when the idea for the Kiwoko Bible Institute was born. Our mission was simple: to bring affordable theological education to rural pastors so they could better serve their communities.

We officially launched the Bible Institute in 2008 with just a handful of students. Around that same time, I was introduced to *Christianity Explored*, a Bible study program that walks through the Gospel of Mark. It was exactly what our churches needed — a resource to help new believers understand the basics of the faith. I began using it in small groups, and it quickly spread.

As the Bible Institute grew, we faced challenges. Our first major hurdle was finding a location. By God’s grace, we had already established a primary school in Goshen after adopting a boy we found near death. That one act of kindness led to us rescuing many more children, and within six months, we were caring for 48 children. We built a school for them, which eventually grew into a community of over 300 students.

The primary school became the perfect base for the Bible Institute, which used the school’s facilities during holidays. Pastors would come for two-week intensive study modules and then return to their villages with coursework to complete. Throughout the year, I personally visit them to see how they’re applying what they’ve learned in their ministry.

The next challenge came quickly: we needed books. Most of our pastors didn’t have access to libraries or biblical resources. How could they study and grow without the right materials?

In 2008, I attended a Langham Partnership preaching conference, and it changed everything. Langham’s Books for Bible Colleges (BfBC) campaign has been a lifeline for us. They’ve provided the theological resources our pastors need to dive deeper into their studies. These books have been transformative — some pastors even return to borrow more to continue their learning.

The impact of Langham’s support has been tremendous. Over the past 15 years, we’ve trained over 500 pastors, equipping them to lead their congregations with biblical depth and confidence. *Christianity Explored* has now been translated into six languages, and through these resources, we’ve reached millions of people.

But there is still much work to do. My vision is for every pastor in Uganda to be trained to handle God’s Word with care and conviction. We’ve recently expanded our training programs into northern and eastern Uganda, and even to refugees from South Sudan. The need is great, but I believe God will continue to provide.

I ask for your prayers and support. Pray for the pastors we are training, that they would remain faithful to their calling. Pray for the expansion of our programs and for more resources to equip our leaders. Pray for the Books for Bible Colleges campaign and for those contributing directly to our work at Kiwoko Bible Institute and Goshen School. Together, we can ensure that the gospel continues to transform lives across Africa.