Believers sail in new boat commissioned for evangelism at Sese Parish, Mwena landing site –Kalangala. (Courtesy Photo.)
The landscape of global Christianity has changed dramatically since 1910. Between 1910 and 2010, the number of those involved in evangelism and discipleship increased from 62,000 to 400,000, according to sources. Yet, despite the increase, mission and development agencies are still struggling to reach the unreached with the gospel.
In what has been noted as a landmark, the Church in Uganda this week officially commissioned a new boat in order to access multiple islands that were once shut off by the second-largest freshwater lake in the world, Lake Victoria.
Namirembe Diocese through a release on Saturday confirmed the availability of the boat for Ssese Parish at Mwena landing site –Kalangala. The event was officiated by Bishop Wilberforce Kityo Luwalira.
Buford Church- UK and Christians of Ssese parish purchased the boat at nine million Ugandan shillings (about $2425), and has a seating capacity of 40 people.
“The boat will help in mission work of Ssese Parish in spreading the gospel in hard to reach areas in Ssese Islands,” the statement read.
With a population of about 35,000, the Ssese Islands are an archipelago of eighty-four islands in the northwestern part of Lake Victoria in Uganda. About forty-three of the islands are inhabited.
The islands are a Luganda-speaking area. Outside of Kalangala bay, locals on the islands may not speak English.
The islands vary in size from less than 10,000 square metres (2.5 acres), to over 40 kilometres (25 mi) in length for the largest island, Bugala Island.
Considering recent reports, AIDS is a serious health problem in the Ssese Islands, and the infection rate is extremely high. Among the fishing villages of the islands, more than 90% of the population are reported to be infected.
Nile Crocodiles are common on the islands and, due to over-fishing by humans and a lack of abundant prey in the area, have taken to attacking humans with more consistency.
