News
West Nile Adventists gain autonomous territory as church moves to deepen mission
The historic ceremony, held at Arua Central Seventh-day Adventist Church, attracted worshippers, pastors, elders and delegates from districts across West Nile, marking the region's separation from the Northern Uganda Field to operate directly under the Uganda Union Mission.
SDA Uganda Union Mission President Pastor Samuel Kajoba hands over gifts to the new West Nile territory coordinator Pr. Robinson Okello. (Photo by John Paul Opio)
By: John Paul Opio, Journalist @New Vision
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The Seventh-day Adventist (SDA) Church has ushered in a new chapter in its evangelism and administration in the West Nile sub-region following the official launch of the West Nile Attached Territory, a move church leaders say will accelerate gospel outreach, improve service delivery and strengthen the spiritual growth of believers.
The historic ceremony, held at Arua Central Seventh-day Adventist Church, attracted worshippers, pastors, elders and delegates from districts across West Nile, marking the region's separation from the Northern Uganda Field to operate directly under the Uganda Union Mission.
The new territory will be coordinated by Pastor Robinson Okello, who was elected by the Uganda Union Executive Committee in June 2026 to spearhead its operations.
Pr. Robinson Okello, the New coordinator of SDA West Nile Territory, elected to the Uganda Union Executive Committee in June 2026. (Photo by John Paul Opio)
Presiding over the inauguration, Uganda Union Mission president Pastor Samuel Kajoba challenged church leaders to embrace servant leadership and remain faithful shepherds entrusted with God's people.
He reminded pastors that the church belongs to Christ and urged them to nurture believers through sound biblical teaching while equipping them with practical knowledge that can transform families and livelihoods.
"The flock does not belong to you. It belongs to Christ who died for them. Love them, protect them, teach them the truth and guide them away from false teachings," Kajoba said.
He further encouraged pastors to ensure that church members receive both spiritual nourishment and practical life skills, noting that ignorance remains one of the greatest causes of poverty, broken families and underdevelopment.
"A church should be a mini-seminary where believers are empowered spiritually and intellectually. Knowledge is key to transforming lives," he added.
Kajoba expressed confidence that the newly established territory has enormous potential for growth and urged church leaders not to waste the opportunity created by the restructuring.
In his acceptance remarks, Pastor Robinson Okello described his appointment as a collective responsibility and called on all church members to work together in advancing the mission of the church.
He emphasised unity, faithful stewardship and commitment to evangelism as the pillars that will define the success of the new territory.
"This work cannot be accomplished by one person. We need every church member to participate so that together we can spread the gospel throughout West Nile and prepare people for the soon coming of Jesus Christ," Okello said.
He also thanked the Uganda Union Mission for establishing the territory, saying the decision would allow the church to expand faster and better respond to the needs of believers across the region.
The spokesperson for the Seventh-day Adventist Church in Arua, Joram Okura Okumu, said the previous arrangement under the Northern Uganda Field had created logistical and administrative challenges because pastors had to travel long distances to Lira for meetings and approvals.
He explained that locating the headquarters in Arua would significantly reduce travel costs, speed up decision-making and improve supervision of churches across West Nile.
"For growth to happen, leadership must be closer to the people. Just as the government decentralises services through districts, the church also needs administration close to its members. This new territory brings leadership nearer to the people," he said.
Kajoba expressed confidence that the newly established territory has enormous potential for growth and urged church leaders not to waste the opportunity created by the restructuring.
In his acceptance remarks, Pastor Robinson Okello described his appointment as a collective responsibility and called on all church members to work together in advancing the mission of the church.
He emphasised unity, faithful stewardship and commitment to evangelism as the pillars that will define the success of the new territory.
"This work cannot be accomplished by one person. We need every church member to participate so that together we can spread the gospel throughout West Nile and prepare people for the soon coming of Jesus Christ," Okello said.
He also thanked the Uganda Union Mission for establishing the territory, saying the decision would allow the church to expand faster and better respond to the needs of believers across the region.
The spokesperson for the Seventh-day Adventist Church in Arua, Joram Okura Okumu, said the previous arrangement under the Northern Uganda Field had created logistical and administrative challenges because pastors had to travel long distances to Lira for meetings and approvals.
He explained that locating the headquarters in Arua would significantly reduce travel costs, speed up decision-making and improve supervision of churches across West Nile.
"For growth to happen, leadership must be closer to the people. Just as the government decentralises services through districts, the church also needs administration close to its members. This new territory brings leadership nearer to the people," he said.
Okura revealed that the church is already planning major infrastructure developments, including permanent administrative offices, after securing physical planning approval from Arua city authorities.
He added that the new territory is expected to receive its own transport facilities, enabling pastors to travel more efficiently while strengthening evangelism across the region.
Church members welcomed the development, describing it as a long-awaited milestone that will transform the growth of Adventism in West Nile.
Marvin Edega, a member of Ovujo SDA Church, said the new arrangement would simplify administrative processes and bring church leadership closer to local congregations.
"We used to depend on the Northern Uganda Field in Lira, which delayed many activities. Having our headquarters here in Arua will make service delivery faster and more effective," he said.
Another church member, Ellie Anguparu, a master guide and ambassadorial director at Arua Church, described the launch as a historic moment for Adventists in the region.
He noted that West Nile's strategic location bordering South Sudan and the Democratic Republic of the Congo presents an opportunity for cross-border evangelism.
"This territory places us at the centre of mission work. The gospel will now spread more quickly, not only across West Nile but also into neighbouring countries," Anguparu said.
The establishment of the West Nile Attached Territory is expected to strengthen church administration, improve pastoral support, expand evangelism and accelerate infrastructure development as the Seventh-day Adventist Church positions itself for greater growth in Uganda's north-western region.
He added that the new territory is expected to receive its own transport facilities, enabling pastors to travel more efficiently while strengthening evangelism across the region.
Church members welcomed the development, describing it as a long-awaited milestone that will transform the growth of Adventism in West Nile.
Marvin Edega, a member of Ovujo SDA Church, said the new arrangement would simplify administrative processes and bring church leadership closer to local congregations.
Pr Robinson Okello, the New coordinator of SDA West Nile Territory poses for a group photo with his new executive. (Photo by John Paul Opio)
"We used to depend on the Northern Uganda Field in Lira, which delayed many activities. Having our headquarters here in Arua will make service delivery faster and more effective," he said.
Another church member, Ellie Anguparu, a master guide and ambassadorial director at Arua Church, described the launch as a historic moment for Adventists in the region.
He noted that West Nile's strategic location bordering South Sudan and the Democratic Republic of the Congo presents an opportunity for cross-border evangelism.
"This territory places us at the centre of mission work. The gospel will now spread more quickly, not only across West Nile but also into neighbouring countries," Anguparu said.
The establishment of the West Nile Attached Territory is expected to strengthen church administration, improve pastoral support, expand evangelism and accelerate infrastructure development as the Seventh-day Adventist Church positions itself for greater growth in Uganda's north-western region.