By Kefa Senoga

Uganda Christian University (UCU) has pledged Shs 50 million in support of the Provincial All Clergy Conference 2025. The pledge was made by the Vice Chancellor, Canon. Prof. Aaron Mushengyezi, as part of the university’s commitment to strengthening the mission of the Church of Uganda. He made these remarks while addressing clergy on August 19 at the All Clergy Conference that took place at the university’s main campus.

The four-day gathering brought together more than 3,000 clergymen from all 39 dioceses of the Church of Uganda for prayer, teaching, fellowship, and reflection on the future of ministry. The conference, which began with registration on Monday, August 18, officially opened on Tuesday, August 19, with a Holy Communion Service led by the Archbishop of the Church of Uganda and Chancellor of UCU, His Grace the Most Rev. Dr. Stephen Samuel Kaziimba Mugalu.

In his sermon drawn from Ezekiel 34:1–13, Archbishop Kaziimba reminded clergy to lead with a heart of servanthood and to depend fully on God, the Chief Shepherd.

“Our strength is not received from our experiences. Your experience is very good, but without the Chief Shepherd, it is good for nothing,” he said.

The Archbishop urged the clergy to feed from God’s word so they could faithfully feed the flock. He also called on priests to defend the Church against wrong teaching, cults, and evil practices.

“Regardless of your titles—Venerable, Canon, Archbishop—remember that without God as your source of understanding and spiritual energy, your titles are very good for nothing,” he emphasized.

In his remarks, UCU Vice Chancellor, Canon Prof. Aaron Mushengyezi, challenged clergy to embrace servant leadership and abandon what he described as the “I don’t care” attitude.

“Some leaders inherit a parish and leave it the same or worse than they found it. That is not the spirit of a servant of the Lord,” Prof. Mushengyezi said.

He emphasized stewardship and discipline in leadership, recalling his own experience of leading UCU through the COVID-19 pandemic when resources were scarce.

“We were able to save Shs 2 billion just by reorganizing strategies. Stewardship means appreciating what you have and managing it with discipline,” he said.

Prof. Mushengyezi urged church leaders to be mission-driven and transformational, adding value to both institutions and communities.

The Provincial Secretary of the Church of Uganda, Rev. Canon William Ongeng, cautioned clergy against being influenced by politics.

“We have received cases of some priests being sponsored by political parties to fight against their own leadership. That is unfortunate and not the characteristic of a shepherd,” he said.

He reminded the clergy that, according to the Constitution of the Church of Uganda, retirement for priests is mandatory at the age of 65. He noted that his office has the mandate to notify bishops about retirement two years in advance and revealed that he himself will retire in October 2027.

Rev. Canon Ongeng also urged clergy to uphold their identity by wearing proper clerical attire rather than replicas that compromise their calling.

Canon Dr. Ruth Ssenyonyi, Chairperson of the Uganda AIDS Commission, called on clergy to play a stronger role in HIV awareness and prevention.

“We must encourage our congregation who are HIV positive to take their medicine faithfully. When someone takes their treatment regularly, it means they will not be able to pass on the disease to someone else,” she explained.

She added that consistent medication allows the immune system to recover, reducing the spread of the virus.

“If you have lived with HIV for 20 years and taken your medicine well, it means your soldiers are standing strong, while the bad ones are down and not reproducing. That’s what we are working towards,” she said.

Dr. Ruth Ssenyonyi urged clergy to use community radios and special church services like Easter and Christmas for HIV sensitization.

“Don’t only focus on collecting money from large gatherings. Formulate good messages that raise awareness and save lives,” she advised.

The Provincial All Clergy Conference is being held under the theme “The Good Shepherd and the Flock of God.” Sessions are focusing on discipleship, pastoral ministry, clergy well-being, and leadership in a changing world.

The conference also featured exhibitions from various schools, faculties, colleges and partners of UCU. Participants engaged with displays from the Faculty of Law, the School of Journalism, Media and Communication, the School of Business, the Faculty of Education, and the Faculty of Agricultural Sciences, among others. University colleges, including UCU Mbale University College, also showcased their programs, giving clergy and partners an opportunity to appreciate the breadth of academic and professional training offered at UCU.

The event also provides networking opportunities with church partners and stakeholders, including UCU, Uganda AIDS Commission, Words of Hope Uganda, Equity Bank, Stanbic Bank, Liberty Insurance, and Child Evangelism Fellowship.

The conference will conclude on Thursday, August 21. It continues to serve as a vital platform for uniting spiritual leaders, strengthening their commitment, and shaping the mission of the Church of Uganda.