The Contribution of Reverend Yoweri Buningwire to the Growth of Christianity in Ankole Diocese

Abstract

This study examines the contribution of Reverend Yoweri Buningwire to the growth of Christianity in Ankole Diocese, Uganda. Despite the significant role of indigenous clergy in the expansion of Christianity in Africa, scholarly attention has predominantly focused on foreign missionaries, leaving a gap in the documentation of local leaders like Reverend Buningwire. This research addresses this gap by analyzing his spiritual, educational, and socio-economic contributions, as well as the challenges he faced in advancing Christianity in Ankole.

Using a qualitative research design, the study draws on historical documents, archival records, and interviews with retired clergy, current church leaders, and senior lay members of Ankole Diocese. The findings reveal that Reverend Buningwire played a pivotal role in expanding Christianity through strategic land acquisition, culturally contextualized evangelism, and the establishment of churches and schools. His ministry emphasized holistic transformation, integrating spiritual development with social reforms such as advocating against domestic violence and promoting girls' education.

However, his work was met with significant challenges, including resistance from traditional religious practitioners, political opposition from local leaders, marginalization within colonial church structures, and logistical hardships in establishing churches in remote areas. Despite these obstacles, his leadership laid a lasting foundation for Christianity in Ankole, demonstrating the importance of indigenous agency in the growth of the faith.

The study concludes that Reverend Buningwire’s contributions were instrumental in shaping Ankole Diocese, offering valuable lessons for contemporary church leadership in Africa. It recommends the preservation of his legacy through archival documentation, the adoption of his holistic ministry model, and further research on indigenous clergy’s roles in African Christianity. This research contributes to the broader discourse on African church history by highlighting the often-overlooked impact of local religious leaders in the continent’s Christianization.