SOMA Uganda

On of the joys for SOMA is that we get to share ministry from everywhere to everywhere. It was especially moving this year to welcome guests to the UK from 5 continents, and 11 nations to minister in local churches and learn together.

Rev James Arinda, the regional representative for SOMA Uganda, spoke at both the Asian Fellowship and the 09:30am service at St Paul’s Slough - an intercultural resourcing church for Oxford Diocese and beyond, where Rachael Sanya (our trustee) is a key church member and her husband Sam is the vicar.

James and Beatrice have been given the exciting task of exploring restarting SOMA Uganda - through networking with the many Ugandans who have either been on and received SOMA teams, and spreading the vision to bishops, clergy and lay supporters. James is “regional representative” an interim role for two years until Uganda can follow Kenya and others in developing a full board and appointing a National Director.

James was helped in his visit to the UK by Bishop Nason Balaku from South Rwenzori Diocese in West Uganda. Bishop Nason was an inspiration to National Directors and the churches he minsitered in (including All Saints Woodford Wells, Holy Trinity Claygate and St Peter’s Farnborough). Bishop Nason’s diocese have received many teams from SOMA and his diocese is also the home of next year’s SOMA Intern Mbambu Tumusime Debora.

So many Ugandans have been on SOMA UK or SOMA USA teams over the past 45 years, and many more have received teams and training in their dioceses. Surely this will be one of the strongest SOMAs in years to come, with so much prayer and spiritual power behind it?

Do pray for the reestablishment of SOMA Uganda and the right people to come together to help mobilise what God wants to do for the nations through the Church of Uganda.