Adventist Church Uganda unveils new leaders as FIDA hosts gender forum

28 August 2025, 1:56 pm

By Ronald Ssemagonja

The Seventh-day Adventist Church in Uganda has officially unveiled its new leadership team, ushering in a new chapter for the denomination in the country. The event, held today at the church’s headquarters in Kampala, brought together church members, clergy, and media representatives to witness the announcement of leaders who will steer the institution from 2025 to 2030.

Pastor Samuel Kajoba, the newly appointed president, expressed gratitude to God for entrusting him with the role. A veteran church leader born in November 1958, Kajoba has served the church for more than three decades and previously led the Central Uganda Conference, where he is credited with significant growth and nurturing of new mission fields. He holds a Bachelor of Theology from Bugema University and a Master of Arts in Pastoral Theory from the Adventist University of Africa.

“I want to thank the Almighty God for seeing us worthy to serve in these positions. We never applied for them, but we believe that one of the reasons is our relationship with God. Our strategy is to front evangelism, and I urge the general public to pray for peace as the nation heads to the 2026 general elections. Without peace, there’s nothing we can do,” Pastor Kajoba said.

His appointment follows the promotion of former president, Pastor Maka Moses, to the position of Secretary General overseeing 11 countries in Africa. Other new appointees include Pastor Nicholas Birigwa, 44, who now serves as Executive Secretary. Birigwa, a physicist and mathematician pursuing a PhD in Theology at the Adventist University of Africa in Kenya, has vast experience in teaching, chaplaincy, and district leadership. He is married to Rachael Nakibuuka and together they have five children.

Also introduced was Elder Isaac Lyada, 40, who takes up the role of Executive Treasurer. A finance professional with 12 years of treasury service in the Adventist Church, Lyada expressed gratitude for his appointment, pledging to serve with diligence.

The Seventh-day Adventist Church in Uganda has previously been led by notable figures including Elder Stanley Kyambadde, Elder John Lugga, Elder Daniel Matte, and Pastor Moses Maka. The new leadership team has pledged to strengthen mission work, deepen discipleship, and lay a foundation for sustainable growth of the church in the years ahead.

Meanwhile, in Kampala, the Uganda Association of Women Lawyers (FIDA-Uganda), in partnership with the Strategic Initiative for Women in the Horn of Africa, convened a Regional Gender Forum at Serena Hotel under the theme “Justice Beyond Borders: Regional Mechanisms and Women’s Rights in the Greater Horn of Africa.” The forum brought together lawyers, policymakers, women’s rights advocates, and academics to explore ways of strengthening regional human rights mechanisms in advancing women’s rights across fragile and conflict-affected states.

Elizabeth Kemigisha, Advocacy and Communication Officer at FIDA-Uganda, emphasized that the forum sought to foster dialogue, collaboration, and accountability, adding that there is great hope regional mechanisms will be better utilized to safeguard women’s rights across Africa.