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The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints in Uganda

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The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints in Uganda
AreaAfrica Central
Members22,138 (2023)[1]
Stakes3
Districts3
Wards18
Branches21
Total Congregations[2]39
Missions1
FamilySearch Centers8[3]

The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints in Uganda refers to the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (LDS Church) and its members in Uganda. A branch was created in Kampala in 1991, and by year-end 1991, there were 99 members in Uganda. In 2022, there were 20,693 members in 38 congregations.

History

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Membership in Uganda[4][1]
YearMembership
199199
1993800
19951,300
19992,375
20043,788
20096,919
201413,248
201917,887
202220,693
*Membership was published as a rounded number.
English
Swahili
The Book of Mormon in the official languages of Uganda.

The first Ugandan to join the LDS Church was Charles Osinde, who was baptized in Scotland and returned to Uganda.[1]

The LDS Church was profiled in the Broadway musical The Book of Mormon that premiered in 2011.[5] The story follows two missionaries in Uganda.

In 2012, The New York Times profiled an LDS Church missionary, Jared Dangerfield, as he served in Uganda, "Each day he rises with the African sun to say his prayers before venturing into the urban wilderness of Kampala, Uganda, a churning kaleidoscope of motorcycles, street urchins, vegetable carts and pterodactyl-like storks that circle office towers and lampposts. They orbit above him as he makes his way up and down the muddy hills of the capital city, careful to keep his black pants and white shirt clean, scanning faces in search of those who will listen to him speak of his faith. His Mormon faith."[6]

Stakes and Districts

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As of November 2024, the following stakes and districts were located in Uganda.

Stake Organized
Busia Uganda District 17 Nov 2024
Gulu Uganda District 16 Jun 2019
Jinja Uganda Stake 5 Dec 1993
Kampala Uganda North Stake 17 Jan 2010
Kampala Uganda South Stake 22 Jan 2017
Masaka Uganda District 6 Jan 2019
Mbale Uganda District 17 Nov 2024

Branches not part of a stake or district include:

  • 3 branches in Lira
  • Mbarara Branch
  • Uganda Kampala Mission Branch

The Uganda Kampala Mission Branch serves families and individuals in Uganda and South Sudan that is not in proximity of a meetinghouse.

Mission

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The Uganda Kampala Mission was created in 2005 as a division of the Kenya Nairobi Mission. In 2012, the mission split again creating the Rwanda Kigali Mission. [7] As of January 2023, the Uganda Kampala Mission remains the only mission of the LDS Church in Uganda and also encompassesSouth Sudan.

South Sudan

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The LDS Church has reported no official church membership and congregational figures. Member groups in Juba and Akobo operated starting in 2009 but was discontinued during a civil war in the mid 2010's.[8] All of South Sudan is included in the Uganda Kampala Mission Branch which serves individuals and families not in proximity to a meetinghouse.

Temples

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Uganda is currently in the Johannesburg South Africa Temple district. On April 2, 2017, the Nairobi Kenya Temple was announced by Church President Thomas S. Monson.

On October 6, 2024, President Russell M. Nelson announced that a temple will be built in the capital city of Kampala.

edit
Location:
Announced: 		Kampala, Uganda
6 October 2024 by Russell M. Nelson[9][10]

See also

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References

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  1. ^ a b c "Facts and Statistics: Statistics by Country: Uganda", Newsroom, LDS Church, retrieved 10 June 2023
  2. ^ Excludes groups meeting separate from wards and branches
  3. ^ Uganda Family History Centers Map, familysearch.org, retrieved 24 Feb 2023
  4. ^ Wendall J. Ashton; Jim M. Wall, Deseret News, various years, Church Almanac Country Information: Uganda
  5. ^ Brantley, Ben. "Missionary Men With Confidence in Sunshine", The New York Times, 24 March 2011. Retrieved on 28 March 2020.
  6. ^ Kron, Josh. "At Age 19, From Utah to Uganda", The New York Times, 13 April 2012. Retrieved on 28 March 2020.
  7. ^ Hoffelmeyer, Kira (December 10, 2021), "There's a new assignment option for missionaries in Africa", KSL NewsRadio 102.7, retrieved January 27, 2023
  8. ^ Stewart, David; Martinich, Matt, "Country Resources: South Sudan", Cumorah.com, retrieved February 23, 2023
  9. ^ The 17 new LDS temples include firsts for two countries and two U.S. states, Salt Lake Tribune, 6 October 2024
  10. ^ "The Prophet Announces 17 New Temples at the October 2024 General Conference", Newsroom, LDS Church, 6 October 2024
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