The bible says in 2 Samuel 7:5,13 “Go and tell my servant David, Thus saith the Lord, shalt thou build me an house for me to dwell in? (V5 KJV) He shall build an house for my name, and I will stablish the throne of his Kingdom (V13 KJV).” The founders of St. Stephen’s Kitara Church of Uganda (COU)-Katwe established and built God the church of worship in fulfillment of the scripture.
The founders in a revelation, decided to obey God and came up with ideas of building God a church, where people would congregate to worship God in truth and spirit, and their lives be changed through the gospel being preached, just as it is written in Isaiah 1:18, where the bible says “Come now, let us reason together, saith the Lord: though your sins be as scarlet, they shall be as white as snow, though they be red like crimson, they shall be as wool-KJV.
It is upon this background that St. Stephen’s COU Kitara was founded under a noble mission of fulfilling Christ’s mission through holistic teaching, evangelism, discipleship and healing for a healthy and Godly nation.
Background
According to Canon Edmund Turyatunga, the Parish Council Secretary, St. Stephen’s Kitara COU originally started as a small congregation in 1993 at a Nursery school along Sir Apollo Kaggwa road under “The Site Light of Christ Church.”
He revealed that the Congregation started with an aim of bringing together people from western Uganda speaking Runyakitara to pray into their mother language with no permanent place of their own, has rapidly transformed into a vibrant dynamic Church having acquired and secured a permanent place of worship.
In 1995 the church shifted to Old Kampala Secondary School and in 1998, the church shifted to Buganda Road Primary School where monthly rent was friendlier under then Headmistress late Rose Mukandoori.
“The operations of the church remained adhoc though partially recognized and under All Saints Cathedral Kampala as a regular congregation operating at Buganda Road Primary School,” Canon Turyatunga noted.
He said that later, various clergy were posted and growth was registered both horizontally and vertically.
In 2008, a prime land on Queensway where the current St. Stephen’s Kitara Church is, was bought by the Parishioners themselves, according to Turyatunga.
He added that the construction of the current church sanctuary commenced on April 28, 2011 and on the April 16, 2012, the first worship service was held in the church presided over by then Assistant Bishop of Kampala Diocese Rt. Rev. Zac Niringiye.
Canon confirmed that on July 22, 2012, the then Archbishop His Grace Henry Luke Orombi dedicated and consecrated the church to the glory of God as St. Stephen’s Kitara COU.
Turyatunga explained that, in January 2013, the church was upgraded to parish status.
The church records indicate that, it has evolved from having lay readers to having several clergy. Some of the ordained clergy that have served at Kitara Church since it became a parish are; Late Rev. John Kakyeshoro, Rev. Annah Karibwije, Late Rev. Dr. Solomon Nkesiga, Rev. Gregory Byamukama, Rev. Paulson Tumutegyereize.
Others include; Rev. Jasper Tumuhimbise, Rev. Prof. Emmanuel Muranga, Rev. Eliab Kajungu, Rev. Jasper Tumuhimbise, Rev. Kenneth Karyaija (current Vicar), Rev innocent Muhweezi, Rev Annet Tumukunde, Rev Elly Twebaze, and Rev Nathan Natukunda (Founder Member and current Associate Vicar).
Following church records, Kitara church which is currently under the discipleship of Reverend Kenneth Karyaija, the Vicar has progressively changed into a more worship centre that is offering services to several people and in different languages such as English, Karamojong and South Sudan kore service.
Due to its convenient and strategic location, the church has become a hub for hosting all dioceses from Western Uganda and other churches from all over the country.
During an interview, Rev. Kenneth Karyaija revealed that, they mobilize christians hailing from other dioceses outside Kampala and the church has continuously hosted such gatherings and provided the requisite facilitation.
He said that it’s central location within the City centre offers the public an excellent opportunity for public services such as health services, government programs such as electoral activities, security meetings, Identity card registration, among others. This has made the church so critical in society management and it is a useful platform for other engagements.
Rev. Karyaija noted that, the church has since birthed and formed branches in Nansana, Kabulengwa and Gayaza, boosting over 3000 christians, and hosted in over 27 home cells around Kampala.
The Reverend said that the church also gives room for marrieds to get involved in ministry. Groups like Fathers Union and Mothers Union have helped in strengthening the foundation of the church and marriages, as counseling of married couples and those intending to get holy matrimony is done during their meetings, and prayers in order to raise God fearing children which as a result lowers the rate of divorce among married couples, strengthen families and expand the gospel.
However, Turyatunga noted that, the church also runs a program called the untold global initiative which takes care of people living with HIV/AIDS. The beneficiaries are skilled in different enterprise such as making liquid soap and shirts.
According to Ezekiel Musinguzi, the Missions Coordinator and Spiritual Councilor at St. Stephen’s Church Kitara, this is done to help people tell their own story.
“We support over 80 people where we give them food, counseling services , skill them and graduate them after nine (9) months,” Musinguzi said.
The founders of St. Stephen’s Kitara Church of Uganda which is located in Katwe, decided to offer a service beyond self as the church has continued to demonstrate Godliness, spiritual growth and a holistically transformed church that doesn’t not only end at preaching the gospel and spiritual development, but goes beyond to focus on transforming people’s livelihood through extending projects to them and supporting the needy, thus ensuring development and socio-economic transformation.
