Assistant Bishop Kayeeye is a child of the EastAfrican Revival. His mother, Esther, wasconverted in 1936, and he describes himself asbeing brought up in a strong, inspired, and self-reliant Church, where the social, spiritual andthe economic are understood to stand together.He says, “Christians in south-west Uganda doown the Church and are not spectators. TheChurch is a missionary Church.”

Mid-Africa News was interested tounderstand his experience of leaving this stronghome church to serve with Bishop Munzenda ina diocese which has seen much conflict and isworking for reconciliation. He told us:

“The change in language and culture is hard.I notice that the governance and approach of

the Belgians as former colonial masters has lefta different legacy to that of the British inUganda. I am in a new environment. A blackmissionary where the local Church cannot givemoney, transport, paper, pen and ink but whereeveryone expects you to perform like any othermissionary from Europe.

Peace and security“People here are tired. They are desperate forbetter roads, health services, electricity andclean water. There is an urgent need forrehabilitation and reconstruction.

“This area of Eastern Congo was hit verybadly during the civil wars and the liberationwars. Because of the invading forces HIV/AIDSis still on the increase. People are dying in largenumbers because of lack of education.

“The Church has a critical role to play en-suring a holistic approach in the reconstructionof the country. There can only be moral andspiritual rehabilitation where there isrepentance, forgiveness and reconciliation. So,since I arrived, we have been trying to build upan effective and accountable leadership whocan be visionaries and help create a renewed4p3

Not a spectator sportIn 1896, Apolo Kivebulaya became the first Ugandan missionary to Congo. When he was buried he asked

that his head be facing west because he wanted the gospel to reach the west coast of Congo.

A century later Assistant Bishop Enoch Kayeeye, from Kabale, is strengthening the historic ties between

the Church of Uganda and DR Congo by working as a missionary in the Anglican Diocese of North Kivu.

Mid-Africa NewsMid-Africa NewsMay – August 2007

Welcome

CMS work in south-westUganda leads this edition. Weprofile long-serving people inmission, as well as meetingTom Cockburn as he headsout for a short termplacement in Kisoro.

Also weaving through thisissue you’ll find threereflections on the veryparticular calling of being abishop. Two new Burundianbishops make a pilgrimage toCanterbury for a coursedesigned to support themthrough the early years oftheir ministry. And in ouropening article you can hearabout Bishop EnochKayeeye’s journey as amissionary from Kabale toCongo.

I’m finding it engaging andpretty humbling to comealongside those working inand for the Mid-AfricaRegion. My thanks go toJeremy Woodham for hisyears of service as editor ofthis resource. I hope you’llfind these pages continue toinform and encourage yourown support and prayer.

Laura Harvey, editor.

ABOVE: Clean water is not aguaranteed commodity for thechildren of North Kivu.Photo: Steve Burgess/CMS

LEFT: Bishop Kayeeye (second row,far right) with bible school studentsand staff.Photo: Steve Burgess/CMS

On Being A BishopCMS began the year by supporting two new Burundian bishops to

attend the esteemed Canterbury Cathedral course for those in the

early years of Episcopal ministry. Mid-Africa News caught up with

Bishop Sixbert Macumi (left) and Bishop Eraste Bigirimana (right)

before they visited parishes in the UK.

Overnightyou becomethe fatherof a very

big family

Can you tell us what it’s like to be a newbishop?

Bp Bigirimana: It’s very challenging! Especiallyin an African context. Overnight you becomethe father of a very big family and you have toshow you are fulfilling this role, day and night.

Bp Macumi: Suddenly instead of taking care ofone parish you have 28. In my country, with thecurrent challenges of flood and famine, everyday I can have people coming and saying, “OhBishop, we are dying!” and I have to decidehow to respond.

Why did you want to do the Canterburycourse?

Bp Bigirimana: Our hope was that we would betrained in this new field by people who havemuch more experience than we do, and thisexpectation has been more than fulfilled. We’vebeen able to explore the beauty and therichness of Canterbury Cathedral – our motherchurch. To be able to pray there and to beprayed for there has been very special. We havebeen blessed.

Bp Macumi: For us to be in Canterbury it is likewhen Moses went to the mountain and metwith God. We have got great strength from theexperienced people who came to us and said,“Don’t be discouraged. You will face challenges.You will be able to go on…”

What will each of you draw on as you go backto your dioceses? Who especially inspired you?

Bp Bigirimana: For me it has been a time ofretreat to think about my mission and to sharemy life as a bishop with my brothers, from allover the world. We were given time to thinktogether and to look at how we can addresssome of the challenges as a whole Anglicancommunion. Hearing Bishop Simon Chiwangafrom Tanzania speaking from an African contextwas very helpful. He was teaching about howpeople may treat you as a king when youbecome bishop but that you are a servant ofGod and you need to be humble, to approachpeople, share with them and work with them.

Bp Macumi: For me, hearing John Kafwankafrom the mission and evangelism department atthe Anglican Communion. He was teaching thatGod started the mission by sending Christ to aworld of misery and poverty and in the sameway a bishop is called to live with his people onearth. Like Christ, he doesn’t set himself apartbut he dares to come and be with them.

What are your strongest memories of yourtime in Canterbury?

Bp Bigirimana: We were able to visit and meetwith Archbishop Rowan Williams and we havebeen very touched by his humility andhospitality. Just by meeting with us he hasgiven us insights into how we have to behave

as bishops.

Bp Macumi: Yes. Also talkingwith the other new bishops –from India, Africa and America.A whole community of ourbrothers is growing up.

What are the biggestchallenges in your diocesesof Muyinga and Buye thatyou would like us to bepraying for?

Bp Bigirimana: Muyinga is anew diocese and after 13 years of

war we are welcoming people backfrom exile. Our diocese is the door

through which they are entering the

BELOW: Nutrition programme

Muyinga.

4 and repentant society. I want to help the Churchorganise an integrated education, which willbuild people’s capacity for self-reliance.”

Sharing learningAs a Canon in the Church of Uganda, EnochKayeeye founded the African InternationalChristian Ministry (AICM), which continues toempower rural communities through capacitybuilding and advocacy for sustainabledevelopment.

“At AICM I learnt a lot about mobilisation. Theorganisation was born in an environment wherethere was no raw material richer than people.We believed in building people up. What I learntthere helps me greatly now in my ministry ofcapacity building. CMS works with me topublicise this work and to re-establishsupportive structures in the Church.”

As Bishop Kayeeye talks, priorities of

evangelism, renewal and reconciliation work areunderpinned with a passion foreffective pastoral ministry:

“My vision for the comingyears is to see the Church beinga model for society, able toshow strong management, andeffective, accountableleadership. A place where allpeople are welcome andinvolved.”

It’s a vision which could makea big contribution to North Kivu. It’sa vision that we would do well to hearand support in the UK. l

RIGHT: A Mother's Union supported income generation

project.All photos: Steve Burgess and Laura Harvey/CMS

country and we have a responsibility to ministerto them. As you know there are huge problemsfor returnees when they find their property orland has been taken or sold by others. Peoplealso know who amongst their neighbours killedtheir children or their parents.

We’re also receiving returning Burundi refugeeswho have been made to leave Tanzania by force.So they leave with nothing and are separatedfrom their relatives. The big issue for me is howto accommodate and care for them. Becausethey had been living in Tanzania for some timebefore the war UNHCR will not class them asrefugees and give support.

The Church is trying to bring people togetherand stop them turning back to war or conflict.Although the new government is in place, thepeace is not yet there. It is not enough to leave itto the political parties. The Church has to beinvolved, to help the government and to build areconciled nation.

Bp Macumi: We need people who can explainthe Gospel in the times we live in. In Buye onlyfour people have been trained in theology atuniversity. If you haven’t had a chance to studyyou are challenged and defeated by those whobring false teaching.

The floods and famine we have experiencedalready this year are affecting people all over thecountry. The flooding destroys crops as well as

homes, so people are hungry. We’re alsorepatriating people whose houses have beendestroyed by war. They can make the bricksthemselves to try and rebuild but they come tous because they need iron sheets for the roof.

Bp Bigirimana: Pray that God will help us to fulfilthe big responsibilities we have to thecommunity and for our work as a diocesefighting famine as well as HIV/AIDS, malaria, andpoverty.

Bp Macumi: Pray for strength, that we mayspread the Gospel. l

After the training course Bishop Sixbert was hosted byPam and Pat Brooks in Angmering and then Stephenand Anne Stordy in Wadhurst. Bishop Eraste travelledfor a week with St Mark’s Nottingham and then withBrian and Marion Wright in Cumbria.

ABOVE: Refugees at a food

security project in the Nyankanda

area.

LEFT: Choir in Buye diocese.

All photos: Steve Burgess/CMS

SW Uganda: Partnering the Church

Dr Mairi Crawford andLaurence Phin serve atRugurama Health Centre inKabale. Mairi is apaediatrician and Laurenceis a medical technician,providing trainingregionally.

Chris and Polly Barton are dental healthspecialists in Kabale, tackling widespreadand often overlooked dental healthproblems and dental education. They alsoprovide expertise to mission hospitals inRwanda.

Joan Hall retires this summer as managerat Rushere Community Hospital in NorthAnkole Diocese. As part of the CMS Saltfellowship she has been a living symbolof SW Uganda’s connection to the globalChristian family.

Jenny Green is based in Kisoro where she leadschildren’s and youth ministry in the diocese ofMuhabura, and is opening a new centre forvulnerable children. She is joined by CMS shortterm volunteer Tom Cockburn.

People in Mission

Uganda is a strongly Christian country that offers a dynamic faith to people around the world. The churchfaces continual challenge inaddressing issues of poverty, AIDS,the increase of Islam, and ongoingwar in the north. CMS assists theChurch of Uganda as it witnessesthrough health-care programmes,care for orphans, theologicaltraining, leadership formation andyouth ministry.

BELOW: Self-supporting programmes like the Rukungiri Growers, Orphans andDisabled project enable effective holistic mission. Pat Gilmer (Salt programme)serves the Church of Uganda both as a shadow project manager and indiscipleship training. Photo: Pat Gilmer/CMS

LEFT: Liz Traill (Salt programme)teaches on the environment courseat Bishop Barham UniversityCollege. Her presence is indicativeof the Church’s desire to addressthe issues of global warming at alocal level.

RIGHT: Children’s ministry is vital.AIDS has left Uganda a very youngnation. Photo: Geoff Crawford/CMS

Kisiizi hospital near Kabale is a Christian hospital with acatchment area roughly the size of Wales. Christian staff and

mission partners have been providing a medical service since1958. Mission partners Ann Moore (above), Adrian and Jane

Shutt (above left) and SALT member Hazel Leonard (right) givecrucial expertise and continuity in an area of the country whereworking conditions make it difficult to retain local staff. Ann is a

children’s nurse and also supports staff training with Hazel,who promotes continuing professional development through

the nurses’ training school. Adrian is a surgeon, and Jane worksin many roles, including that of midwife.

Adrian and Jane Shutt and family

6

RIGHT: Adrian operating at a

VVF camp, Gahini.Photo: Jane Shutt/CMS

Jane with a young patient.

Photo: Adrian Shutt/CMS

I’d like tomodel

‘being-with’the patient

Multi-tasking in missionMother of four, “surgeon smoother”, capacity builder and professional. Labels are

limiting but they highlight just some of the priorities and pulls for one of our

mission partners in SW Uganda.

Jane Shutt spent the beginning of Januarycompleting an intensive return to midwiferycourse which included squeezing 450 clinicalhours into her home leave. Most UK midwiveswill rejoin hospitals where they can provideone-on-one support for mothers in labour. AtKisiizi Hospital, where she has now returned tosupport husband Adrian in his role as surgeon,Jane explains that the staffing rota is far toostretched to even approach this level of care:“At nights there is one midwife on duty andwith her assistant she needs to cover everycase in the hospital.”

A night on the wards“Imagine for a moment you are a Ugandanmidwife. On any one evening you may havethree women in labour simultaneously! Ifthere’s a caesarean going on in the operatingtheatre you will also need to go and collect thenew born for postnatal care. On the way back,you check on two incubators each holding threebabies, and another six cots of premature orgrowth-retarded newborns. Next door there is awhole ward of sick antenatal women, who maybe suffering with malaria or high bloodpressure. Other beds are taken by post-operative mums who need their drips, stitchesor catheters looking after following caesareans.”

It’s not hard to identify with the challenges.Jane’s return to midwifery will help to coverstaff shortages and mean that women in labourcan be better cared for. She explains, “Alongwith Ann Moore and Hazel Leonard, (see p4–5),I’d like to model a style of patient care whichfocuses on touch, gentleness, and ‘being-with’the patient. I’m hoping there’s quite a lot I canlearn from the Africanmidwives – like how tomanage a breachdelivery without a C-section, which is quiterare in the UK. A bigpriority for all of us thisyear will be overcomingthe delays to getting thenew maternity ward fullyequipped and up andrunning. This will meana much better workingenvironment for themidwives.”

Life-changing surgeryJane also speaks withpassion about

accompanying Adrian to quarterly surgicalcamps at Gahini Hospital in Rwanda, where shetakes the histories of the women who needoperations for obstetric-related fistulae.

“Most of the patients with this condition arevery young and under five feet tall. Theirpelvises are small, and they can develop holesin their bladder following birth trauma. Theresult is constant discomfort and socialstigmatising as the women try to cope withurine or faeces leaking from their bodies. Oftentheir husbands lose interest, and the womenare left alone, unable to get a job becauseemployers are put off by the smell.”

Following the collapse of medical servicesduring the genocide in Rwanda, there are largenumbers of Rwandan women suffering with thiscondition, some of whom have lived with theirfistulae for more than ten years. By transferringhis skills as a vascular surgeon Adrian has learntto do an operation which can mean thedifference between ostracism and integrationfor a patient. The treatment is highly soughtafter. Jane remembers one 25-year-old girlwho’d spent a decade raising chickens to earnthe money for her operation.

The Shutts’ presence at Kisiizi and theirwillingness to run these surgical camps meandaily existence can be transformed not just forwomen in the hospital’s catchment area but forthose otherwise unable to get the treatment inRwanda. It’s a classic example of how expertise,dedication and a whole host of strongpartnerships can bring meaningful change andcompassion into people’s lives. A microcosmperhaps of what service at Kisiizi is all about. l

ABOVE: The old labour ward

at Kisiizi. Photo: CMS

7

Mid-Africa round-upBringing you up to date with mission news throughout the region.

DRC Bishops installedBishop Henry Kahwa Isingoma will beconsecrated Bishop of Boga on18 April 2007,succeeding Bishop Patrice Njojo who retiresafter more than 25 years service including aperiod as Archbishop. Bishop Bahati Bali-BusaneSylvestre of Bukavu; Bishop Kasima Muno ofKatanga and Assistant Bishop Enoch Kayeeye ofNorth Kivu (see p1) have all recently beeninstalled in their new dioceses. Remember tooBishop Ande Titre who has been installed asBishop of Aru since November 2005. Many ofthe new bishops have left the safety of their oldchurch communities, and have moved manyhundreds of miles with wives and children.Bishop Kasima comes from a small rural villagein Boga diocese to Lumbumashi, an industrialcity of three million. Mission partner JudyAcheson wrote from Katanga at hisenthronement, which coincided with theconsecration of St Paul’s Cathedral: “Thecathedral was started in 1986 but it is only inthe last three years that there has been realprogress with half-yearly services to raisemoney for the next work to be done. Howgrateful this diocese is for all that BishopIsingoma has contributed not only to thebuilding of this cathedral but to the training ofclergy enabling them to work in partnershipwith the bishop.” Pray for continuation of suchpartnerships across the country.

Kinyarwanda resources. MegGuillebaud hasreceived agrant of£2,900 fromCMS to furtherthe impact ofher translationwork for

catechist training in Byumba Diocese. Thefunding will allow 5,000 booklets on OldTestament history, geography and Judaism to beprinted in Kinyarwanda, and distributed withsimilar numbers of bible study booklets on 1Peter and Nehemiah. Kigeme Diocese startedtheir own bible school in 2006 and is also keento use the material.

Mid-Africa Prayerlines. The Mid-Africa printed prayer diary is nowmonthly and comes with CMS Mission Update,which also features Mid-Africa items from timeto time. To ensure you receive yours emailpenny.chew@cms-uk.org or call 0845 620 1799to request a copy. You can also receive a moredetailed email prayer bulletin twice a month.Email africapa@cms-uk.org to request this.

Swanwick reflections. Bishop Paul Butler preached with compassionateinsight on the theme of “Moving Forward”,using stages of Moses’ story to encourage andchallenge us in three different phases ofdiscipleship: standing still; confronting realityand taking risks.

The conference also heard from Alain KaswaraKafuzi and Elias Atsidri Assia, Congolese medicalofficers visiting from IPASC (Pan-African Instituteof Community Health), who recounted both thepresent challenges and the journey to Arufollowing the destruction of the IPASCinfrastructure in Nyankunde and Bunia. PaulButler, commenting on how the organisationhad moved their location in order to keep goingthroughout the war, said, “IPASC doesn’t knowreverse, it only decides to move forward.”

This year’s conference is from 16-18November at High Leigh. Contact Nick Fane forbookings on macom@fanes.co.uk or 01684566601.

OBE for DRC work. Francesca Elloway’s many years of medicalservice were recognised in the New YearHonours List when she was awarded the OBE for her services to healthcare in East Africa. Shecontinues to serve as a mission partner in theDiocese of Aru (pictured right), where as in therest of Congo around 80 per cent of the medicalservices are provided by the Church.

ABOVE: Bishop Kasima’s

installation.Photo: Judy Acheson/CMS

Right: Elias and Alain share

a Congolese worship song.Photo: Steve Burgess/CMS

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CMS on the move! From June our UK office will be in Oxford. But you can start using our newcontact details straight away: Email info@cms-uk.org, telephone us on 0845 620 1799 or

write to CMS, PO Box 1799, Oxford OX4 9BN. And do visit our new-look website atwww.cms-uk.org to make sure you’re up to date with all the Mid-Africa news and events.

Registered Charity Number 220297

AIDS has left a

very youngnation

TOP RIGHT: Tom Cockburn.Photo: Steve Burgess/CMS

RIGHT: Young people need to become

self-reliant early in Uganda.Photo: Ian Smith/CMS

“Allowing God to challengeeverything I take for granted…”Graduate Tom Cockburn has begun a short-termmission placement in Kisoro, in the south-western corner of Uganda, near the borderswith Rwanda and the Democratic Republic ofCongo. He is supporting mission partner JennyGreen, who heads up the youth and children’swork in the Diocese of Muhabura.

Kisoro may be in a fertile, peaceful andbeautiful area of the country but is sufferingfrom the effects of HIV and AIDS – which meansmany children are without parents, income orsecurity. Youth work is particularly needed inUganda because AIDS has left it a very youngnation.

Tom’s placement will focus on this need,giving him a chance to organise and participatein new youth activities, and to develop or adaptresources for the regular diocesan programmes.There is also the opportunity to offerdiscipleship training and to help the youngpeople he works alongside discover ways ofbecoming self reliant.

Before leaving he told Mid-Africa News, “Iwant to contribute however I can. I’mapproaching the placement with an open mind,ready to apply myself in whatever way in orderto meet the needs of the church’s ministry inKisoro. I pray that during my time there I mightbe able to share Jesus with people and thatlives may be changed but I also know that theonly life I have control over is my own, and somy greatest aim is that Jesus will be changingmy life through this experience.”

While the contribution he makes to thediocese’s ministry to young people will clearlybe important in his next six months, Tom knowsthe experience will also make a difference tohim:

“After many years of academic education Irecognise the limits of that learning and I wantto be challenged by different lifestyles and

worldviews. I want to learnfrom another culture andanother church, to reflecton what I know alreadyand to allow God tochallenge everything Itake for granted. I alsowant to be pushed faceto face with poverty andsituations of sufferingwhere God can growmy compassion. InMatthew 14:14 it iswhen Jesus isconfronted withpeople that he hascompassion on themand heals the sick. Ifeel it is important forme to see the realities of life in this part ofUganda first hand, to have compassion and bestirred into action when I get home. I also wantto be testing out what God is calling me tolong-term in the fields of mission, social actionand ministry.”

Challenging ourselvesWe will hear more from Tom on his return andfind out how the placement has affected him.Also full of their Uganda experience are a groupfrom Beverley Minster. CMS facilitated a twoweek short term mission for them in March tofurther the relationship between the Minsterand St Peter’s Cathedral, Kabale. The itineraryallowed team members with special interestareas to engage in the life of the cathedral,including a special link-up between theMinster’s youth worker and the youth team inKabale.

Do you feel encouraged to follow their leadand experience life in the Mid-Africa regionyourself? This summer sees a short termmission visit heading out to Gitega Diocese inBurundi (30 June – 14 July). The group will takepart in local worship and visit a church plant inMushasha Parish to meet and study with theyoung people there. There will also beopportunities to visit the schools, hospital andTEE programme and to see the foodprogrammes in Buhiga and Karuzi parishes l

Why not join the Burundi group and begin ajourney that could change the way you lookat the world?

For more information contact Debbie James atdebbie.james@cms-uk.org or 020 7803 3326.