Pastor Samuel Kajoba installed as SDA Church president

28 February 2026, 3:01 pm

By Ronald Ssemagonja

A spirit of joy and reverence filled the Seventh-day Adventist Church grounds in Najjanankumbi today as Pastor Samuel Kajoba was officially installed as the new president of the church in Uganda, marking the beginning of a leadership term that will run until 2030.

The special Sabbath ceremony drew prominent religious, cultural, and political leaders, reflecting the significance of the occasion. Among those in attendance were the Deputy Speaker of Parliament, Rt. Hon. Thomas Tayebwa, Members of Parliament, the Second Deputy Katikkiro of Buganda Kingdom, Waggwa Nsibirwa, Apostle Joseph Serwada, and the Archbishop of the Orthodox Church in Uganda, among others.

Pastor Kajoba’s journey in ministry spans nearly five decades. He began serving God in 1977 through the education ministry, dedicating his life to nurturing faith and knowledge. He is married to Margaret Kajoba, and together they have raised six children and are blessed with more than ten grandchildren.

Delivering his farewell sermon, the outgoing president, Pastor Maka, emphasized the church’s mission under the theme, “Go and make disciples.” He reminded believers that leadership is temporary and encouraged the new president to focus on mentoring others and building future leaders.

“Leadership is transitory, and the best thing you can do is disciple others,” Pastor Maka preached. “That is why I focused on building people because I knew that one day I would leave this responsibility. To Pastor Kajoba and the entire union in Uganda, go train others, nurture them, prepare them, develop them, and make them the best until eternity.”

He reaffirmed that the church’s mission remains centered on spreading the gospel of Jesus Christ and strengthening believers in their faith.

In his acceptance remarks, Pastor Kajoba expressed gratitude to God and the church for entrusting him with the responsibility. He pledged to lead with humility and faithfulness, guided by God’s will.

“By God’s grace, I pledge to serve the people of God,” Pastor Kajoba said. “I thank the Government of Uganda for the freedom of worship. Our church has 12 administrative entities, and next year we will celebrate 100 years of existence. We are striving to remain grounded in the Bible through study and spiritual growth.”

He also emphasized the importance of unity, peace, and embracing modern tools to advance the church’s mission.

“In partnership with other religions, we pledge to promote stability and peace. Let us move together. We must intentionally embrace technology as a church. As I conclude, please pray for us,” he added.

On behalf of the Buganda Kingdom, Katikkiro Charles Peter Mayiga, represented by his Second Deputy Waggwa Nsibirwa, thanked the church for its role in spreading the gospel and shaping responsible citizens. He pledged continued collaboration between the kingdom and the church for the development and spiritual growth of believers.

Speaking as chief guest, Deputy Speaker Thomas Tayebwa congratulated Pastor Kajoba and praised the Seventh-day Adventist Church for its contribution to spiritual development and national growth. He noted the church’s impact in transforming lives, especially in Ishaka District, and emphasized the government’s commitment to working with religious institutions to fight poverty and promote moral values.

“We need you as a church to give us spiritual knowledge,” Tayebwa said. “We thank you for nurturing God-fearing citizens and praying for this nation. Our major focus as government is to fight poverty.”

He also delivered a message from President Yoweri Museveni, who contributed Shs50 million to support the church’s mission.

As Pastor Samuel Kajoba begins his tenure, the ceremony marked not just a leadership transition, but a renewed commitment by the Seventh-day Adventist Church in Uganda to continue its mission of faith, discipleship, and service to the nation.