By Michael Ainomugisha
From August 20 to 24, 2025, the hill of Rugarama, just below Uganda Christian University –Bishop Barham University College in Kabale, came alive as thousands of Christians gathered for the 9th East African Revival Convention, hosted by the Diocese of Kigezi. The steady beat of drums echoed through the valley, mingling with harmonized angelic voices of the choir that filled the air with praise.
The Rev. Confidence Ayebare, marking 12 years in ministry, attends her second East African Revival Convention in Kabale.
This year’s crusade carried special significance: It is 90 years since the East African Revival first swept across Uganda and beyond. What began as a movement of repentance and renewal among a few believers has become a living tradition and a journey of spiritual revival across East Africa.
For four days, Kabale was the center of prayer, song and teaching, with believers traveling from all over Uganda and the neighboring countries.
The grounds of Rugarama bustled from dawn to dusk. Some rose early for prayer before the main sessions, while others formed smaller groups under trees to share scripture. Children filled the children’s church, learning the same theme in ways tailored for them. The theme this year, drawn from Hebrews 12:2, was both simple and profound: “Let us fix our eyes on Jesus.”
It was in this setting that Rev. Confidence Ayebare Nyamugasira sat under the local organisers’ tent, her eyes bright as she took in the worship and teaching.
Ayebare, a former student of theology at Bishop Barham University College, is a priest in the Diocese of Kigezi, serving at St. Andrew’s in Nyabikoni Parish. She explained that this was her second time at the convention, her first having been in 2015, three years after her ordination. Now, 12 years into ministry, she returned with her husband and children.
“I am happy to be here with my family,” she said with a smile. “My children are in the children’s church, where they are also learning, and that gives me so much joy.”
Her role extended beyond attending; she also served as a registration official, welcoming participants.
“We had so many people from different dioceses and even outside Uganda,” she recalled. “I was especially moved to see old women and men coming. It was a big lesson for me. I pray that I, too, will continue to serve the Lord to the very end.”
For Ayebare, every convention carried something fresh. She noted that those who come get “new information” as they meet “different people with different messages…from the same Bible.”
One message in particular stayed with her.
Natukunda Joshua Bihabwa, who calls himself “a son of the ground,” joined the convention, seeking spiritual renewal.
“Archbishop Luke Orombi talked about ministers of the church needing to live exemplary lives,” she said. “That challenged me. As a minister, I need to look like my ministry, in my word and even in my actions.”
Orombi, who was the archbishop of the Anglican Church of Uganda from 2004 to 2012, was the main preacher on day three. His sermon carried both urgency and hope, urging believers to “live lives set apart for God.”
“You are bought with a price,” he proclaimed. “Not silver, not gold. Jesus gave His life for you. You are not your own. God paid for you.”
He spoke candidly about the moral crises facing society, corruption, immorality in schools and universities, and the erosion of family values. “What kind of householders are we producing?” he asked.
Even then, his message was not condemnation, but invitation. He noted: “Today, our hearts must be cleansed. Even our minds must be cleansed. Allow God’s presence to come. Because when you are like Christ, the fire will fall upon you.”
Former Archbishop of the Church of Uganda Henry Luke Orombi (left) with the Bishop of North Kigezi Diocese, Onesimus Asiimwe, during the convention
The words rang across the valley, and their weight did not pass unnoticed. Among those listening intently was Natukunda Joshua Bihabwa, a young man whose story mirrors the spiritual journey of his community.
Bihabwa describes himself as “a son of the ground” who was born and raised in Kabale, the very soil where the revival has deep roots. He pursued a Bachelor of Public Administration degree at Bishop Barham University College between 2013 and 2016.
His heritage is both complex and symbolic.
“My father is a priest, but my grandfather was a witch doctor,” he explained. “So, I am a grandchild of a witch doctor and a son of a priest. I have to keep the candle of faith and revival burning in our family.”
For Bihabwa, attending the convention was more than tradition; it was renewal. He added: “I get a lot from this convention: renewal of my spirit. I have many things to pray for, and I know the spirit of God is here.”
Like many young people, Bihabwa is navigating a fast-changing world.
“Our generation is struggling in many things,” he admitted. “We strive hard to know God, but there are so many distractions. I am praying to know God more and more, and I believe the messages here are guiding me in that direction.”
He also carried family concerns in his heart, praying quietly for peace and unity at home. For him, the revival was not only about personal growth, but also about carrying forward a family testimony, from witchcraft to priesthood, from darkness to light.
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