Bill and Wanda’s Incredible Journey

As an informed insider, what could Grace tell us about Uganda? And what challenge would she leave us?

Religion in Uganda? In the 1920’s the East African Revival began to have a massive impact on Uganda and neighbouring areas. It is zealous in its call for holy living, and for Christians to encourage one another, and to challenge one another. They were very keen to spread the Gospel. Grace recalls having 36 people stay in her father’s house when they were visiting her area to do evangelistic work. The East African Revival developed a lot of “do’s and don’ts” and made the Christian life seem very hard to live.

Then in the 1980’s there was an upsurge in Pentecostal type Christianity in Uganda. This made faith more appealing Nowadays the church in Uganda is spreading very fast. It is Ugandan led. It is strong among young people, and what is more, it is succeeding in gaining conversions from people of other faiths.

But. And aren’t there always “buts”. There are tensions between those of an older generation who are keen to remain faithful to the original vision of the East African Revival, and the fired up younger generation. Grace says there are many new denominations on the scene, and sometimes the tensions between those are now felt deeper than the old fault-line in Uganda between Ugandan Anglicans and Ugandan Roman Catholics. Then there is the influence of the so called “prosperity theology”. That God will materially bless those who are faithful to Him. That has had a big impact in the “new” churches.

Development of the Nation? I asked Grace about what kind of impact this has had on the social and economic development of Uganda. After all, millions of keen Christians must be making a difference. And the World Bank and IMF in recent years have viewed Uganda well. She said that we should not forget where the nation has come from. A poor country to start with, savaged by 20 years of Civil War (remember Idi Amin?). Most of that has passed. In all that upheaval, family ties were broken up. The traditional African extended family network is a phenomenal welfare system. Yet, with so much suffering in recent years, and with continuing pressure from HIV/AIDs, development is hindered. Sure – the situation in Uganda is better than some other countries in the region. Yet, many families are still overwhelmed by the burden of having to look after so many dependants from their extended family arising from past wars and disease. Other people look after “number 1″. In a country where the very idea of an orphanage was strange (a place for children without living relatives??), now they are quite common.

Final words of advice to Bill and Wanda? Because of the legacy of the East African Revival, we will find many loving people in the church. Make sure we socially mix when we get to Kisiizi. Develop good personal relations with them. Build trust, and then we will hear their hearts. And we will be able to work well together. Otherwise they will not get involved in the work we are there for. They sit back and say “oh just let the muzungu (European) get on with it”.

Thanks Grace, for both your insights and advice.

Dr Grace Kyeyune is a lecturer in development studies in Nkumba University, Entebbe, Uganda. She got her PhD from Reading University, UK, on poverty strategies of the Sese Islanders of Lake Victoria.