Namirembe, March 11, 2026 — The Archbishop of the Church of Uganda, The Most Rev. Dr. Stephen Samuel Kaziimba Mugalu, has returned to Uganda after undertaking official international engagements in Abuja, Nigeria, and Cairo, Egypt.
While in Abuja, Archbishop Kaziimba participated in the Global Anglican Future Conference (GAFCON) G26, where he led a delegation of 52 representatives from the Church of Uganda. The team comprised 41 bishops, six clergy members, and five lay leaders.
The conference, hosted by the Anglican Church of Nigeria from March 3 to 6, brought together 347 Anglican bishops and 121 clerical and lay leaders from 27 provinces across the global Anglican movement.
During the gathering, GAFCON leaders emphasized efforts to strengthen orthodox Anglican identity and governance. Participants also discussed what they described as a “reordering” of global structures within the Anglican Communion.
As part of the reforms, the GAFCON Primates Council has been replaced by the newly formed Global Anglican Council, which will include primates, advisors, and guarantors as voting members. The council will oversee the recognition of provinces and dioceses participating in the emerging Global Anglican Communion.
Delegates welcomed the election of Laurent Mbanda, Archbishop of Rwanda, as Chair of the Global Anglican Council, Miguel Uchôa, Archbishop of Brazil, as Deputy Chair, and Paul Donison as General Secretary. The council will also guide the implementation of the Jerusalem Declaration and help safeguard the faith and mission of Global Anglicans.
While still in Abuja, Archbishop Kaziimba, together with bishops from the Church of Uganda and the leadership of Church Commissioners Holding Company Ltd, held a strategic meeting with John Kamya, Chairman of Hamilton Telecom, and board advisor Tshepo Kgadima.
The meeting explored potential investment opportunities for the Church in the telecommunications sector. Discussions focused on strengthening the Church’s partnership with Hamilton Telecom, the parent company of PaxTel, the Church of Uganda’s telecommunications partner. Leaders examined possible areas of collaboration aimed at expanding digital connectivity while creating sustainable revenue streams to support the Church’s mission and development programs.
Following the conference in Nigeria, Archbishop Kaziimba travelled to Cairo to attend the Global Council meeting of the Anglican Relief and Development Fund (ARDF), where he serves as a trustee.
During the meeting, the Archbishop commended ARDF for its continued support to communities in Uganda through humanitarian and development initiatives. He particularly praised the fund’s assistance in emergency relief efforts at Nakivale Refugee Settlement and its support to the Sebei Diocese following devastating flash floods last year that caused loss of life and displacement.
He also highlighted ARDF’s role in supporting the construction of a health facility in Sebei Diocese aimed at addressing rising cases of Female Genital Mutilation (FGM) in the area.
The Archbishop further revealed that ARDF has committed funding toward the construction of the Maama Margaret Kaziimba Hospital in the Mukono Diocese, with the first facility expected to be commissioned later this year.
Archbishop Kaziimba explained that the hospital project was inspired by a deeply personal experience.
“We decided to build a hospital in memory of our first child who was a girl that lived for only about five minutes. When my wife Margaret was pregnant with our first child, she walked long miles to get maternity services, and by the time she reached the health facility, the baby was tired and died shortly after birth,” he said.
He added that the hospital will help reduce maternal mortality in Uganda by improving access to maternal and child health services.
During the ARDF Global Council meeting, Richard Condie, Bishop of Tasmania in Australia, was elected Chair of the global council.
Meanwhile, Archbishop Kaziimba is expected to travel to Rukungiri in the North Kigezi Diocese on Friday for a farewell pastoral visit. During the visit, he will preside over celebrations marking three years of episcopal ministry of Onesimus Asiimwe, Bishop of North Kigezi Diocese, scheduled for Sunday, March 15, 2026, at Emmanuel Cathedral Kinyasano.
