President Museveni, First Lady grace Light Up Uganda for Jesus

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The six-day Light Up Uganda for Jesus gospel convention concludes Saturday (May 24) at Kololo Ceremonial Grounds in Kampala.

President Yoweri Museveni and First Lady and education minister Janet Museveni are to address hundreds of believers in attendance.

First Lady and education minister Janet Museveni arrives for the event.

Pastor Patience Rwabwogo, the lead pastor at the Covenant Nations Church, Luzira, is the convener of the convention that started on Monday under the theme: “The Crossing: The church stepping into the waters before the Nation,” drawn from the book of Joshua 3:11-17.

The guest preacher, Bishop Ladonna Osborn, prayed for peaceful 2025 general elections and commended believers who have offered to pray for the nation.

Bishop Dr LaDonna Osborn and Patience Rwabwogo.

Bishop Dr LaDonna Osborn.

"You are going back home with a clear vision of the destiny of Uganda. God's plurality is demonstrated in unity," she said.

The 78-year-old daughter of Tommy Lee Osborn (late founder of the Osborn Ministries International) went on to emphasise unity in Christ.

"There is one church where Jesus is the head. The world will believe Jesus through us."

Ladonna rallied believers to pray unceasingly, saying "the destiny of people's souls is at stake".

"We need to cleanse our hearts and love each other since love demonstrates the love of God. Love is unconditional. Whenever we allow to be in love, the love of Christ sits in us."

'Harvest field'

On her part, Pastor Rwabwogo, reiterated her gratitude to Ladonna for honouring the divine invite to return to Uganda to preach the gospel.

Bishop Joshua Lwere (centre).

Members from security forces join the faithful to worship.

"God never forgets his people. He has brought back Bishop Ladonna. Uganda is one of your harvest fields," she said.

In the course of the week, Pastor Patience paid tribute to Osborn Ministries International for standing with Uganda in the turbulent times before the National Resistance Movement (NRM) government.

“In 1985, God sent evangelist T.L and Daisy Osborn and Dr Ladonna Osborn to Kampala at a time when even the UN and Red Cross were not coming to Uganda. God sent his evangelists to Uganda because God’s government has no borders," said Rwabwogo.

Bishop Dr LaDonna Osborn preaching.

“God sent them at a very difficult time in our history, at the height of the Civil War. Bishop Ladonna has shared how there was little food in the city, so they would have an egg in the morning and soup in the evening for dinner.

"There was no car to take the evangelist to the crusade. But they stayed here for many weeks and had a great crusade in Lugogo, and some of you here who were old enough graced the crusade.”

Rwabwogo highlighted that in the over 70 years of the Osborn Ministries, the gospel has been preached in over 100 nations; a milestone she implored the gathering to celebrate.

Pastor Wilson Bugembe leads a prayer session.

Former UNRA ED, Allen Kagina, and Natasha Karugire during prayers.

President arrives

At 2:15 p.m. on Saturday (May 24, 2025), President Yoweri Museveni made his way to Kololo Ceremonial Grounds to address the believers who had graced the Light Up Uganda for Jesus gospel convention for the last six days.

President Museveni arrives.

The arrival of the President was greeted with the gathering standing up to join in the renewal song of "Tukutendereza Yesu."

'Tukutendereza Yesu' had also ushered in the First Lady and the Minister of Education and Sports, Janet Museveni, a few minutes past mid-day.

Pastor Patience Rwabwogo, the lead pastor at the Covenant Nations Church, Luzira, is the convener of the convention that started on Monday under the theme: “The Crossing: The church stepping into the waters before the Nation,” drawn from the book of Joshua 3:11-17.

Mrs Rwabwogo thanked the President and the First Lady for the support, saying that this is the sixth time they are gracing the gospel conventions in the past three years.

She also thanked the guest preacher, Bishop Ladonna Osborn for honouring God's call to preach at the convention.

Pastor Patience said in the last three years of Light Up Uganda for Jesus, starting in 2022, many people have gotten saved, healed and renewed.

"Every convention has been different depending on how God has revealed himself. People have gotten born again, healed and renewed," She said.

She added: "God has manifested himself in the last one week here. There has been travail for the birthing of a new thing."

Speaking to the theme; "the Crossing;" Pastor Patience said the church goes first and steps into the water, adding that as the country nears political transition, the church should step forward to pray for the nation.

"I want to thank the army of people who have joined hands to pull off the convention," Pastor Patience.

She thanked God that he has done what is impossible for men and remains the light of the world.

Thanked her husband, Odrek Rwabwogo and the entire family for carrying the responsibility of the convention for the last three years.

"I thank the family and friends, and my sister Natasha and the family who have been here for the whole week and for supporting this convention. I want to thank the elders of CNC for supporting this work and for moving to different places for this mission," she said.

She thanked all the intercessors and preachers at the convention who camped at Kololo all through the mission.

Ladonna said; "I believe that it is faith in Christ which has made Uganda great in Africa and the whole world."

"Light Up Uganda is not merely a function but represents unity in the body of Christ. For the first time, I prayed for an Anglican. Heaven rejoices when we are together in unity in the body of Christ," Osborn said.

She added; "We may disagree on small things, but we all believe Jesus is Lord. There is no competition in Christ, competition is in sports. We are the light of the world."

President and First Lady pray for the nation.