Dr. Gerald Sseruwagi: founder of Africa College of Theology dies

By Andrew Ssenyonga

A Ugandan theological doctor and the founder of the Africa College of Theology (ACT) Kigali, Dr. Gerald Sseruwagi, has died aged 45.

The Ugandan pastor died in a hospital Kigali recently where he was admitted after suffering a heart attack. His family doctor in Kigali said he was battling high blood pressure.true

According to Fred Katagwa, ACT executive director, Dr. Sseruwagi went to Rwanda after his doctorate studies in United States of America in 2009.

“After his studies he came to Rwanda where he started a ministry. He later in 2013 started a theology college in Kigali,” he said, adding that the fallen doctor gave many people hope and helped “show them the way”.

Some 1500 students attended his college by the time Dr. Sseruwagi (right) died.

Katagwa said that Rwanda had “lost a great man” who transformed “our country both spiritually and economically”.

Uganda’s former ISO boss, Brig. Henry Tumukunde described him as one of the first Ugandans to start a church in the country, and as a very resourceful and industrious person who greatly contributed positively towards shaping morals of Ugandans.

“I received with shock the death of Dr. Sseruwagi, a renowned theologist and teacher. I express my heartfelt sympathy and condolences to all the African new community church members for the loss of a leader and a teacher,” he spoke of the doctor.

'Selfless man'

Mourners at his memorial service last Thursday at New City Community church in Lubowa praised Dr. Sseruwagi for a courageous life he lived and his extraordinary humility for a person of his status.

His wife Robina described him as a “selfless man who spent all his earnings preaching the gospel and helping other”, saying that that’s how he got to open a theological college in Kigali.

They had four children together.

Dr. Sseruwagi was born in the January of 1969 to the late Lawrence Mukasa and later attended Kitante Primary School, Kabojja High School and Makerere High School before joining Texas Bible College USA for his first Bachelor’s degree in Theological studies in 1993.

He got his training at Reformed Theological Seminary, earning an M.A. in Theology and an M.A.in Education.

He did further post graduate studies at the University of Potchefstroomse in South Africa and in 2009 he had just completed a Ph.D.in Education with an emphasis on organizational Leadership University of Incarnate word in Mississippi USA.

He served as Deputy to the Vice Chancellor of African Bible University of Uganda, and as a professor of Bible, Ethics, and Education.

While serving at ABU, he was also the Senior Pastor of New City Church, a multi-ethnic, English-speaking congregation in the center of Kampala City.

He also founded several organizations on the fore-front serving the gospel in Africa and serves on non-profit organizations.

In March of last year, he permanently moved to Kigali, Rwanda where he has been serving as Principal for Africa College of Theology.