Church of Uganda, Life International in drive to promote family life

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The Church of Uganda (COU) and Life International have officially partnered to strengthen family life and promote the sanctity of human life.

The Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) was signed at the Namirembe Guest House in Kampala city by Archbishop Stephen Samuel Kaziimba Mugalu and Life International vice president Chris Rookus on February 28, 2025. The event was witnessed by COU provincial secretary the Rev. Can. William Ongeng.

According to the Director of Mission and Outreach in COU, the Rev. Simon Peter Ddembe Lya Yesu, this collaboration seeks to empower Church leaders across Uganda with the necessary skills and resources to support family life and protect human dignity.

“Through comprehensive training programmes, mentorship and resource development, the partnership will integrate the message of the sanctity of human life into COU's extensive network,” Ddembe Lya Yesu said.

Speaking at the signing ceremony, Kaziimba highlighted the significance of the partnership in advancing the Church’s mission to care for families and uphold life at all stages.

“As the Church of Uganda, we are committed to promoting a biblical understanding of life and family. This partnership with LIFE International will equip our leaders to be life-givers in their communities, addressing both spiritual and practical needs. This is a great addition to our call for an end to abortion,” he said.

Rookus expressed his enthusiasm for the collaboration, noting that it aligns with the organisation's mission to champion the value of every human life.

“We are honoured to work alongside the Church of Uganda to foster a culture that values and protects human life. Through these training programmes and ongoing mentorship, we hope to see a lasting impact in communities across Uganda,” Rookus said.

According to COU provincial family life co-ordinator the Rev. Barbara Mugisha, the partnership has already commenced with two key trainings in Busoga Diocese: The “Journey of a Life-Giver,” which focuses on equipping participants to be sources of spiritual, emotional, and physical life, and “Redemptive Conversations,” which aims to provide compassionate responses to people facing crises.

The MOU outlines several collaborative initiatives, including conducting regional training sessions in five regions of Uganda (central, east, west, north, and south), each accommodating up to 50 participants.

It also focuses on equipping Diocesan Mission Coordinators, selected clergy, lay readers, Mothers' Union (MU), Fathers' Union (FU), and Christian Women Fellowship (CWF) leaders with skills in biblical counselling, family support, and life-affirming ministry.

Additionally, the partnership aims to develop sustainable life-giving ministries within the Church of Uganda's network to address community needs such as post-abortion healing and biblical sexuality education.

This agreement will be in effect for three years, with annual reviews to assess progress and ensure the sustainability of life-giving initiatives within the Church of Uganda.