Theological Development Africa

From left to right is: Rev. Dr Richard Seed, Dr Caroline Seed, Mrs Alison Lee, Rev. Esau Bbosa Kimanje & Rev. Grace Kavuma

In March this year, we had the opportunity to visit Uganda Martyrs Seminary in Namugongo (UMSN). UMSN is a partner college of GWC and is part of the Theological Development Africa program (TDA). The TDA program provides bursaries for some of its students. We’re very grateful to support UMSN’s vision to train church ministers committed to the Christian faith. UMSN was established by the Namirembe Diocese and officially inaugurated in 1977. Its name celebrates the Christian martyrs who paid the greatest price for the gospel. These martyrs were killed at the site of UMSN by order of Ssekabaka Daniel Basamula Mwanga II on the 3rd of June 1886. This unyielding commitment to Christ echoes today in the seminary’s name.

UMSN equips the people of God by providing holistic and relevant theological education and training. Its mission is to train the lay readers and clergy serving in the church and the world. Attracting students from Uganda, Sudan, Kenya, Malawi, Congo, Tanzania and Rwanda, we’re thankful for the two GWC alumni serving on UMSN’s faculty: Rev. Alex Sserwada and Rev. Grace Kavuma. The seminary has 300 students who study on-site for part of the year before returning to their respective dioceses to continue their studies remotely. This number is increasing annually.

This year at GWC, we welcome Peter Nsumba to our BTh program, supported by TDA. He will return to lecture at UMSN upon completing his studies. Peter says, “My work experience is in God’s vineyard as a minister, and I have about five years of experience in active ministry. I have worked in different churches serving the Lord. On completing my studies at GWC, I want to return to UMSN and teach theology students using the knowledge I will acquire from GWC. I will also engage in spreading the gospel of Christ to the ends of the world.”

Attracting students from Uganda, Sudan, Kenya, Malawi, Congo, Tanzania and Rwanda, we’re thankful for the two GWC alumni serving on UMSN’s faculty

He continues, “We are blessed by GWC and TDA for the bursaries given to UMSN to assist those who desire to be equipped to teach the Bible faithfully but are struggling financially. They started a degree program in Biblical Studies and Church Leadership and are proud of our pioneer class.”

Pray that God would continue to develop these partnerships across the continent, enabling God’s people to pull together and see the gospel of Christ preached.