Uganda Martyrs Seminary Namugongo

Carl Brooks-Plunkett, current President of the Namugongo Committee, and student at Oak Hill writes:

"Oak Hill’s commitment to training women and men in gospel-focused, Christ Centred Ministry is not new. It is a commitment which spans many decades and numerous cultures and continents. It is a commitment which unites Oak Hill College with Uganda Martyrs’ Seminary, Namugongo. 

2024 will be a significant year for our partnership, as it marks 40 years since the death of Revd. Godfrey Bazira, the principal of UMSN, and former Old Oak. Revd. Bazira was shot and killed on the grounds of UMSN in 1984 by government soldiers at a time of civil unrest. Alongside his death, several UMSN students were tortured and unjustly imprisoned at the time. It was these events in 1984 which began the friendship and partnership between our two colleges. As an Old Oak, news of Revd. Bazira’s death reached Oak Hill and the Principal of Oak Hill, David Wheaton, alongside other staff and students started to pray for and support UMSN in its rebuilding efforts. 

Now, after 40 years of friendship, our partnership continues to thrive! The Namugongo Partnership is a Two-Way partnership, where Oak Hill and UMSN commit to supporting and encouraging one another through regular prayer and the sharing of resources. Between 2020 and 2023 over 60 students, from poorly resourced dioceses within Uganda, have been able to study at UMSN through bursaries generously raised by the Oak Hill Community. Leaders from both Oak Hill and UMSN have been able to visit and enjoy friendship with one another through visiting one another in their own countries and home contexts. This has enabled sisters and brothers in Christ to teach, learn and worship together in fellowship that is a dim picture of the future hope of Revelation 7:9. 

Over the past 13 years, one of the most mutually beneficial aspects of our partnership has been “partnership week”. Despite the interruption of Covid, these visits, from Oak Hill staff and students, to UMSN continue to be a time of great joy and flourishing. A typical “partnership week” is exactly that – one week, where we partner with one another in prayer, in learning, in teaching and in worship. These weeks offer the opportunity for Oak Hill and UMSN students and staff to be involved in lectures, Bible studies, seminars, group discussions and cultural engagement. These regular trips to Uganda are a key aspect of our partnership and have been incredibly formative for all those who have been involved. In these 13 years there have been 22 partnership weeks involving almost 200 visitors. We look forward to many more."