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Meet Pastor Edith Kwagalakwe: the only female Adventist Pastor in Uganda by Apollo Mubiru



My name is Edith Kwagalakwe, the District Leader of Lukojjo found in East Buganda Field in Uganda Union Mission in East and Central African Division.


When I converted to Adventism in 1992, I was a serving Reverend in the Protestant Anglican Church in Gayaza Archdeaconry. I converted after attending an evangelism effort that was organised by the Seventh-day Adventist Church in Luweero district.

"It was not easy for me at all because I was a serving Reverend. My father was a Reverend too. I was summoned to the Bishop's office (Namirembe Diocese) to explain my 'new light'. As I laboured to explain, the Bishop, late Misairi Kawuma, shut me up. The Bishop advised my father to disown me," Kwagalakwe recalls.


"I thank God that Adventists welcomed me at Elder Joseph Serugo's home in Luweero district. They helped me into becoming a primary school teacher," she adds.

I was later told by Pastor Prof Reuben Mugerwa to enroll for a course at Bugema Adventist University. I was admitted for a three- year ministerial course at Kireka.

Upon completion of my study, I was posted to Makerere District as an associate pastor. From there, I was transferred to Kalerwe Church and later posted to Kyanja as a District Leader.


In 1992, I was transferred to Masaka District. It's here that I met the love of my life Samuel Patrick Kayiwa and got married. From Masaka, I was transferred to Mpigi district before I was sent back to Masaka.  In 2018, I was transferred to Lukojjo District. In 2012, I enrolled for a Bachelor's Degree in Counselling and Guidance at Mutesa I Royal University.


"My husband, Mr Kayiwa Samuel Patrick, and I have been blessed with six children. Three boys and three girls. Our last born is joining University in September.


"Being the only female Adventist Pastor in Uganda makes me proud, I have got several friends, I enjoy preaching, my husband and children are famous.


"You cannot be a good minister without reading books. I'm now an ardent reader of ministry books. For example, when I was still at Kyanja, I had a very good working experience with the flock. They would take every suggestion, word of mine whole heartedly because I think they wanted to make life easy for me as a woman minister," she says.


Challenges


"For some church members, because I am woman, they despise me. That is why I try to work hard for the ministry to prove them wrong. A woman can be a good Pastor. I call upon women to join the ministry at a pastoral level. Don't come to the ministry expecting a hefty pay, come to serve. Get close to your pastors, you will be helped into the ministry."



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