St Johns Church, Wakitaka, Diocese of Busoga, Uganda
St Johns Church
St John’s Church Wakitaka, are a growing Church based just outside of Jinja.
As well as spreading the love of God, it is part of St. John’s ethos to teach individuals/families
and small groups to become self reliant rather than just providing handouts, so many of the
programmes are on a self-help basis.
As you find elsewhere in Uganda, there is a large problem with HIV and so they are also involved
in healthcare education. Families can be increased overnight because of the high mortality rate
when orphans go to live with other family members.
View looking up towards St Johns Church
Map of Uganda showing the location of Jinga and the Busoga area
History of the Partership Link
The idea of a partnership link between St Denys’ Parish Church and a church within the diocese of
Busoga, in Uganda was first suggested in early 2002. The Rev. Chris Kyewe, Planning & Development
Officer from Busoga diocese, Uganda, was visiting Southampton churches trying to encourage those
without a partnership link to prayerfully consider this as a project they might like to take on.
The PCC decision to go ahead with this was unanimous and the link was made with St. John’s Church,
Wakitaka, facilitated by the Southampton/Busoga Partnership Committee run by Dave & Jenny Hewett from
Bitterne Park Parish Church and Rev.Chris Kyewe. Jinja.
Southampton Churches and the Busoga Diocese
Approximately 12 – 15 churches in the Southampton Diocese have a link with a church in the
Busoga Diocese, supporting their individual churches with prayer, practical and financial assistance.
Correspondence, photographs, letters and emails regularly pass between Southampton and Busoga churches,
strengthening the bond between brothers and sisters in Christ over the miles.
Various visits have also taken place. Representatives from the Southampton
Churches attend a quarterly Partnership committee meeting held in Bitterne Park
to give an update of the activity of their individual Church link and to seek advice,
if needed, and to discuss any problems.
There is also information exchanged within the group.
Dave Hewett is the Partnership Committee representative on the Deanery Synod.
Building the Partnership
In July 2007 St Denys’ Church was contacted by St. John’s Church Wakitaka, asking if a visit
could be organised for later that Summer. For various reasons this was not possible and in response
to this St. Denys’ contacted St. John’s Church to try and arrange a visit by St Denys’
to Busoga in 2008.
It was decided to visit Busoga first to ascertain the needs of St John’s Church and with the
knowledge gained there, be able to improve the quality of a future visit by St. John’s Church to
St. Denys’ Church.
It was also an opportunity to see how St. Denys’ support was being utilised
and how best we could continue to support our sister church.
In July 2008 four representatives of St Denys Church travelled to the Busoga Diocese. Their visit and experiences are chronicled
here
If you wish to fnow more about the Busoga Diocese, St Denys churches' link or for
ways in which you can become involved in supporting our sister church then
please contact the Church Centre.