Bishop Festo Kivengere of Uganda Discusses

Winston Churchill called Uganda the “pearl of Africa.” But the nation of 14 million has been plagued in recent years by political turmoil and staggering inflation. Four years ago, 14 Ugandan shillings were worth an American dollar. Today the figure is 15,000 shillings. In addition, political power struggles have led to some 2 million deaths in the last two decades.

Yet, during this time, Uganda has experienced a major religious revival. And Christian leaders say there is new hope for political stability under Uganda’s current leader, Yoweri Museveni, who gained power in January. CHRISTIANITY TODAY recently interviewed Anglican Bishop Festo Kivengere of Uganda, who discussed the issues facing his country and the African continent.

What has caused Uganda’s unrest of the past few decades?

In 1962 we inherited a democracy similar to America’s—government of, by, and for the people. The problem was that the people were not involved. And without a grassroots foundation, the government fell apart.

Leaders manipulated the constitution to give us oligarchy, government of the few. Then Idi Amin got tired of the few and gave us a government by and for himself. There was a feeling among the people that what came to power by the gun must be overthrown by the gun. Massacres since Amin’s departure have been worse than they were when he ruled the country.

How much did the church suffer under Amin?

People think Amin stopped everyone from preaching, stopped churches from functioning. That’s not true. I conducted evangelistic missions in his barracks with his permission. Yet in 1977 he murdered my archbishop, and I narrowly escaped. Christians were not the primary target of persecution, but we had more than our share because the church was the voice of the silent people. Like all dictators, Amin was very insecure. Any potential enemy of his regime was eliminated.

Some maintain Africa is a battleground in the struggle between East and West. Is Marxism a threat?

In America, there is a certain fanaticism about communism in Africa. In Uganda, our problems have never had anything to do with Marxism. I know our present leader personally. I’ve prayed with him, looked him in the eye, and said, “You have been accused of having Marxist leanings.” He said to me, “If Marxism had worked on this continent, perhaps I would fall for it. But I can never think of imitating that which has never succeeded. Critics confuse my socialist ideas with Marxism.”

Does the problem of apartheid in South Africa require complex solutions?

No. I see this as a very simple issue. Apartheid is immoral. It takes away the dignity of a human being.

Many feel that change in South Africa must come slowly to avert violence. Blacks there differ not only with whites, but with each other. If blacks do come to power, which blacks would rule?

This line of thinking is pure rationalization. People say, “The tribes are hostile. We’re keeping them from killing each other.” That is a nice explanation to justify an awkward policy. Some Christian friends in South Africa told me blacks there are better off economically than most blacks on the continent, and so they’re happy. I said to them, “You must have a special type of African who is happy in indignity.”

We have heard a lot about revival in East Africa. What has been happening there?

The term ‘revival’ is not our term. We did not know it was revival until some people came over and told us. All we knew was the Lord had come alive. People were looking to the Bible and sharing their faith. There was joy in the churches.

Many of the denominational leaders in East Africa came to Christ through this movement. Sometimes it seems like the fire has died, but conversions and renewal continue through the ups and downs.

What can the church in America learn from this?

In America there is a feeling that God revives people when churches are sound in doctrine, teaching is biblical, and preaching is good. Isaiah was a good preacher. But when he looked to the Lord, he saw in himself things he had never seen before. So too must the church see itself.

It is easy to say we should be humble. But when the church is humbled, it’s a tough experience. Revival is not full churches and good feelings. These are accompaniments. Revival is the living Lord working among his people. When this happens, people see things they don’t like to see. Repentance begins not only when a sinner comes but when a saint is growing.

In what other ways is the African church different from the church in America?

Because of the availability of information and the fact that people from all over the world live in America, many expect the American church to be international in approach. Instead, it tends to be provincial and denominationally oriented. I know of hundreds of people who want to go to seminary to be trained biblically, but not on denominational lines. Those who do not belong to a certain denomination cannot apply for help. In a Third World country, denomination is not important.

What can American churches do to support the church in Africa?

In Uganda today, I can spend from January to December preaching in government high schools, where the Bible is accepted. The greatest response is among young people. There is a thirst for the Word of God. Yet we are short of Bibles to give people, short of teachers to make the Bible live for them. Some pastors who can hardly buy a bicycle look after thousands of Christians. Churches in America can help such pastors to get a bicycle or motor bike. We don’t ask for people to do church planting. We do our own church planting.

Africans have faced famine and violence. How do you minister among the suffering?

We don’t claim to know how to cope with bewilderment. Christ alone can pierce the gloom of terror, fear, and insecurity. He is the one who gives new hope. The only way to minister in heartbreaking situations is to be closer to Jesus, who died and rose again. I find it more difficult to minister to those who are suffering from prosperity. With prosperity comes a kind of deadening façade that numbs sensitivities.

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