PhD in Theology

Permanent URI for this collectionhttps://hdl.handle.net/20.500.11951/801

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A Christian Response to Religious Revisionism in Uganda: A Case of Faith of Unity Religion in Bunyoro Sub-region
(Uganda Christian University, 2025-10-08) John Gad Tibesigwa Akankwasa
The thesis examines a Christian apologetic response to religious revisionism in Uganda: a case of the Faith of Unity Religion in Bunyoro sub-region. Religious revisionism involves reinterpreting or redefining established doctrines and poses a significant and growing challenge to orthodox Christianity worldwide, especially evident in Uganda's lively and diverse religious scene. This the-sis highlights a critical gap in region-specific Christian apologetic responses to such revisionism, focusing on the rapidly expanding Faith of Unity Religion (FOUR) in the Bunyoro Sub-region, a movement whose founder claims divinity. While the Church of Uganda (COU) has traditionally used presuppositional apologetics to counter theological errors, its continued effectiveness against new religions like FOUR, which deny core Christian essentials such as biblical authority, the deity of Christ, and the Trinity, needs reevaluation. The rise of such groups calls for a more straightfor-ward and evidence-based approach. The main goal of this study was to explore how Christian apologetics can serve as an effective response to religious revisionism in Uganda, with a focus on FOUR. To do this, the research examined the widespread religious revisionism throughout Ugan-da, thoroughly analyzed FOUR's unique doctrines and practices, and studied their specific disrup-tive impact on COU ministry within the Diocese of Bunyoro Kitara. Using a qualitative theological-critical method, the study investigated FOUR's core revisionist claims by examining its foundational doctrines and comparing them to orthodox Christian theology and Scripture. Based on Evi-dential Apologetics and using Edward John Carnell’s truth-verification standards, the research builds a strong, context-sensitive Christian response. The findings detail FOUR's significant devia-tions from traditional Christian beliefs, identifying key areas like Christology, Bibliology, and the nature of God, and showing how they disturb local Christian communities. The study shows that a carefully developed evidentialist apologetic, which utilizes historical, logical, and experiential arguments, can effectively counter these revisionist claims. This research offers a practical, contextually tailored framework for engaging with new religions in an African setting, providing valuable, actionable insights for the COU's pastoral and evangelistic efforts, and enriching the broader scholarly discussion on religious change and Christian apologetics in modern Africa.
Bridewealth Revisited: The Practice of Oku Jeza among the Lugbara Christian Community in the Diocese of Ma’di-West Nile
(Uganda Christian University, 2025) Tabi, Julius Izza
This study addresses the tension between the customary Lugbara practice of oku jeza and bridewealth and its perceived negative impact on participation in church marriage within the Diocese of Ma’di-West Nile. Utilizing the hospitality, conversation, and critical faithfulness; theological approach advanced by Swinton, the study identified bridewealth as a social practice of theological interest. Data was obtained using qualitative theological research methods and was subjected to the authority of the bible and the critical faithfulness of the researcher as a practical theologian. From the target population, the researcher interviewed 10 participants, conducted two focus group discussions with 8 and 7 participants respectively, and observed three oku jeza ceremonies. The study has established that the Lugbara Christians in the Diocese of Ma’di-West Nile consider oku jeza and bridewealth as a core process in accessing church marriage. It has been found that the church would not proceed with arrangements for church marriage before receiving permission from the bride’s family which usually is tied up to the customary requirements of oku jeza: the bridewealth. This study has discovered that the present practice of bridewealth harms church marriage in that very few Christians sign up for church marriage, resorting to cohabitation because bridewealth is increasingly becoming commercialized. The study concludes that instead of abolishing bridewealth for the Lugbara Christians in the Diocese, bridewealth should be re-oriented to Love Gift while serving its intended role among the Lugbara Christians without hurting church marriage. The study recommends that the Diocese of Ma’di-West Nile should consider divorcing church marriage from bridewealth and focus on the banns of marriage other than relying on parental permission which is tied up on the customary requirements of oku jeza.
The Implication of Cultural Practices On Church-Based Development Among the Dinka in South Sudan
(Uganda Christian University, 2025-09-22) Abraham Maker Akur Kou
This study explored the implications of cultural practices on church-based development among the Dinka in South Sudan, examining how traditional customs influence socio-economic engagement within faith-based initiatives. The research highlighted the intersection between cultural traditions, religious beliefs, and development efforts, identifying both opportunities and challenges that arise when integrating Dinka cultural norms into church-led socio-economic programs. Using an ethnographic qualitative approach, the study employed semi-structured interviews, key informant interviews, open-ended questionnaires, participant observation, and document analysis to capture the lived experiences of church leaders, community elders, and local congregation members. The study was anchored on three theoretical perspectives: Cultural Relativism, Social Capital Theory, and Participatory Development Theory, which provided a comprehensive framework for understanding the dynamics of development initiatives within Dinka communities. The findings revealed that Dinka cultural practices—such as communal resource sharing, cattle-based wealth systems, and marriage customs—play a significant role in shaping socioeconomic interactions. In contrast, cultural pride and collective responsibility foster economic resilience. Traditional gender roles, polygamy, and a preference for cattle herding over formal education present challenges to modernization and inclusive development. Cultural pride and collective responsibility contribute to economic resilience; however, traditional gender roles, polygamy, and a preference for cattle herding over formal education pose challenges to modernization and inclusive development. The study also identified a hybridization of Christian faith and ancestral beliefs, indicating an evolving religious landscape that presents both opportunities for community cohesion and challenges in aligning church teachings with entrenched cultural norms. This study offers a culturally sensitive perspective on church-based development initiatives, emphasizing the importance of aligning faith-driven interventions with local traditional values. The study recommended that churches leverage communal traditions for cooperative economic projects, advocate for educational and vocational training in conjunction with cultural preservation and implement initiatives that respect local customs while promoting socio-economic transformation. By integrating participatory development approaches, church-led organizations can effectively bridge cultural heritage and modern socio-economic opportunities, fostering sustainable and inclusive development among the Dinka.
PRIVATIZATION OF THE CHRISTIAN RELIGION AND ITS EFFECT ON THE CHURCH’S ENGAGEMENT IN SOCIO-ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT IN ZAMBIA: The Case of the United Church of Zambia.
(Uganda Christian University, 2025-08-26) MUSABA CHIPASHA
This study investigates privatization of the Christian religion in Zambia and its effect on the Church’s engagement in socio-economic development. Using the United Church of Zambia as the case study. Anchored in modernization theory, the research explores shifts in the church’s mission amid increasing individualization of religious life, the influence of Western ideologies, and the relegation of religion to predominantly private practice. The study covers the period from Zambia’s 1991 Declaration as a Christian Nation up to 2022, analysing changes in the UCZ's approaches to healthcare, education, and other developmental roles. Data were gathered qualitatively from a purposively selected group of 170 participants, including bishops, ministers, church elders, development conveners, and district council officers across all ten provinces of Zambia. The findings reveal that, despite Zambia’s legal and cultural environment that supports public religious expression, the church’s commitment to socio-economic outreach has faced challenges due to the privatization and commercialization of religion, individualistic attitudes, and societal transformations driven by neoliberal capitalism. This has contributed to a decline in communal support for mission initiatives and a growing focus on private spirituality and personal fulfilment. The study provides a nuanced understanding of the complexities and paradoxes facing the UCZ’s involvement in development, highlighting both the challenges and the strategies the church employs to remain relevant. The results offer experiential and policy-relevant insights for faith-based organizations and policymakers, emphasizing the importance of holistic, community-oriented responses to religious and socio-economic change in Zambia.
The Church and Economic Poverty Reduction in Western Equatoria Internal Province the Episcopal Church of South Sudan
(Uganda Christian University, 2025-03-12) Wilson Elisa Kamani
This study was conducted on the Church and Poverty reduction in Western Equatoria Internal Province. It addresses the problem of persistence of economic poverty with the overall aim of analysing why there is persistence of economic poverty, which included investigating the state of economic poverty, analysing the role of the Church in reduction of economic poverty and exploring why there is persistence of economic poverty in Western Equatoria Internal Province. Quantitative approach was employed, with guided questions in the questionnaires to collect information through focus group discussion, interviews and literature review. Findings on the state of economic poverty include; illiteracy, insecurity, external factors, lack of resources, diseases and others. The effects of economic poverty on the community are that; people have no stable income, they do not have a daily source of income, no access to school, fees are not paid, children enrolled in primary and secondary do not finish their studies, and some children have not been enrolled in school. On the persistence of poverty findings are; illiteracy, poor governance, polygamy, insecurity, laziness; inequality in all its forms, lack of visionary leadership, cultural values, negative attitude towards change, and inadequate share policies. The recommendations are that; the Internal Province need to come out with a policy to reduce illiteracy, lobby and advocate for peace, develop early preparedness strategies, promote resource mobilization program strategies, focus on preventive health approaches, sensitize communities on poverty reduction, and promote small business programs in the Internal Province.
An Exploration of Financial Control Practices in the Selected Church of Uganda Dioceses of Central Uganda
(Uganda Christian University, 2023-09-21) Wasswa Asaph Senoga
This study explores financial control practices within the Church of Uganda dioceses of central Uganda, employing an Interpretivist paradigm approach and semi-structured interviews with diocesan secretaries and diocesan treasurers. It explores strategies employed to mitigate financial fraud, evaluates the effectiveness of these strategies, and identifies factors contributing to financial malpractice within the church context. The exploration of strategies to mitigate financial fraud revealed several control measures, including vigilant supervision, auditing, segregation of duties, ethical training, transparency, clear policies, promotion of honesty, structured authorization processes, and physical control measures. The evaluation of the effectiveness of these control strategies highlighted their positive impact on transparency, minimized financial risks, and responsible financial management. Challenges in implementation included resource limitations, stakeholder resistance, data privacy concerns, and the complexity of monitoring a large number of volunteers. Additionally, the study unveiled various factors contributing to financial misconduct, such as financial pressures, low remunerations, greed, family expectations, compensation issues, technological proficiency, and organizational culture. It also identified trusting church environments, deficient segregation of financial responsibilities, and limited financial resources as opportunities exploited by church personnel in perpetrating fraud. In conclusion, this research significantly contributes to our understanding of financial control practices within the Church of Uganda dioceses in central Uganda. It not only sheds light on both effective strategies and persistent challenges in mitigating fraud but also highlights the critical need for improved financial governance within the church community. Recommendations stemming from this study include the implementation of enhanced training programs for church personnel, particularly in the areas of ethics and financial management. Additionally, it suggests the allocation of more resources to support robust financial control measures and the establishment of independent oversight bodies to monitor financial practices within the church. These measures, if adopted, can help safeguard the financial integrity of religious organizations and promote responsible stewardship of resources. Furthermore, future research can explore similar themes in different denominations or religious traditions to build upon the foundation laid by this study.

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