Exploring the History and Mission of Watoto Church in Uganda

An English-speaking church called Watoto Church is situated in Kampala City, Uganda. It was originally known as Kampala Pentecostal Church (KPC) before changing its name. Also, in Swahili, the word “Watoto” means children.

According to the church’s mission statement, Watoto church hopes to be an English-speaking cell-based community church, celebrating Christ, growing and multiplying, touching people around them with the love of Jesus, and bringing healing to the cities and the nations.”

The impact Watoto Church has on Kampala and the entire country of Uganda today is a result of Gary’s ability to see beyond the existing quo. It’s coming into existence wasn’t straightforward, you must hear or read it to believe.

Watoto church in Uganda is one of the biggest churches in Uganda. The church attracts worshippers in hundreds for their Sunday and mid-week services. How did Watoto church come about? 

The story of how this church came about is nothing short of a miracle.

Here’s the full story:

On a local Ugandan television station, UTV, a cleverly designed TV commercial depicting the Skinner family was intentionally aired after the then-popular Jimmy Swaggart program. The advertisement promised to be a Christian church with a difference and was compelling and timely for the period.

Services for Watoto Church (formerly KPC) have been held in the Imperial Hotel for two years. The membership has grown beyond the space despite the congregation being active and thriving. The group’s leaders started searching for a suitable structure. Gary and his team spotted several reasonable structures, but they didn’t realize they had found what they were looking for until someone pointed them toward a downtown movie theatre.

The location was known as The Centre. A Goa-based Indian family owned the cinema. According to Gary, the structure was filthy and unsteady, and when it rained, you needed an umbrella because of how severely the roof leaked. Rats, bats, cats, and “elephants” lived under the platform, and there was only one 100 WATT light bulb to illuminate the entire theatre.

On that day, a Bruce Lee movie was being broadcast.

Gary then told his team that God was going to give them that building. Just like that Watoto Church received its first structure from GOD. At first, the church started small, meeting in a hotel room in the heart of Kampala.

Today, the Watoto church congregation numbers around 27000 people, and there are 30-weekend celebration services held in Juba, South Sudan, as well as Gulu and Kampala, Uganda.

The former leaders and the current

Gary and Marilyn. The Ministry’s founders.

Since the team’s establishment in 1984, Gary and Marilyn Skinner have served as team leaders.

However, Fred Kawuma, an elder at Watoto church ministries and the Head of the Leadership Transition Management Committee recently expressed his excitement for Watoto’s future.

According to him, they as a ministry have undergone and are undertaking a leadership transition, with their founders preparing the Associate Team Leaders for this monumental shift. He also stated that this shift started 5 years ago.

Julius and Vernita Rwotlonyo. The new Team Leaders.

Julius and Vernita Rwotlonyo have been appointed as the new Team Leaders of the Watoto Church and Watoto Child Care Ministries, which is renowned for providing hope and healing to underprivileged women and children in South Sudan and Uganda.

Gary and Marilyn Skinner announced their retirement from active ministry, saying: “Over the past ten years, with the grace and support of the Watoto Church leadership, we have, very purposefully, been preparing and mentoring our successors.

Pastor Julius Rwotlonyo and his wife Vernita expressed their appreciation for Pastor Gary and Marilyn’s guidance and commitment. They also promised to continue their legacy.

Locations/Branches

These are the various Watoto church branches, including time of service, location, and who to contact for more information.

Watoto Church Bweyogerere

Pastors: Joe & Jacky Ogwal

Located at Kazinga just opposite Hassan Tarrabi stage.

Watoto Church Gulu

Pastors: Arthur & Phoebe Were

Location: 2-24 Olayilong, Sir Samuel Baker Road, Gulu City

Watoto Church Laminadera

Pastors: Silas & Irene Ayella

Location: Watoto Laminadera Village, Gulu

Watoto Church Mbarara

Pastors: Graham & Sheila Tugume

Location: Rwizi Arch, Rwebikoona

Watoto Church Suubi

Pastors: Stephen & Julian Banyikiza

Location: Watoto Suubi Village, Nakirebe along Masaka Road

Watoto Church Ntinda

Pastors: Eddie & Martha Mwesigye

Location: Kigoowa – Kisaasi

Watoto Church Lubowa

Pastors: James & Debbie Lalobo

Location: Lubowa Estates along Entebbe Road

Watoto Church Jinja

Pastors: Jimmy & Susan Segawa

Location: Source of The Nile Hotel, Jinja

Watoto Church Bugolobi

The Pastors are: Peter & Reenah Kakuru

Location: Silver Springs Hotel, Bugolobi

Watoto Church Bbira

Pastors: Eric & Florence Kakande

Location: Watoto Bbira Village, along the Mityana Road

Watoto Church Downtown

Pastors: Brian & Violet Abaho

Location: Plot 87 Kampala Road

Watoto Church Entebbe

Pastors: Phillip & Daphne Mugerwa

Location: Entebbe, Uganda: X5 Legacy Building, 23–25 2nd Street Industrial Area.

Watoto Church Juba

Pastors: Victor & Miriam Obina

Location: Juba Nabari just behind the American Residence.

Watoto Church Kansanga

Pastors: Daniel & Maria Ogwal

Location: Wonder World Theatre also known as former Didi’s World. It’s on Kansanga, Ggaba Road.

Watoto Church Kyengera

Pastors: Rogers & Charlotte Edyamu

Location: Kyengera along Masaka Road

Some of the Activities which attract the masses in the church  

Many people in Uganda love Watoto Church because of what they do for the community and this is through activities such as the ones listed below;

The Annual Christmas cantata

Every year, the Watoto Church performs a Christmas cantata. The cantata combines dance, scripted drama, lighting design, and a live performance by a 200-person choir. Historically, the cantata has lasted during the week leading up to Christmas.

Watoto The Church

Every weekend, more than 35,000 people gather at Watoto Church in 13 different locations around South Sudan and Uganda. 

They typically hold little get-togethers throughout the week in their homes, offices, parks, and coffee shops.

Through music, dance, and emotional celebration, they worship God, but the church is more than just a place they go to. To them, it’s a family they are a part of. They also have a belief that taking care of the hurting and vulnerable is God’s call for the global church.

Watoto Villages

Orphans and vulnerable children can safely experience what it’s like to have a family in a Watoto village. Over 3,000 children receive homes, families, and the holistic care they need to grow up healthy and whole in their villages, including food, clothing, medical attention, education, and most importantly, a mother’s love.

Baby Watoto

Many infants are found abandoned at taxi stages, outside churches, hospitals, and even on the side of the road. Under this program, the church rescues the most vulnerable children and helps take care of them

The church sees to it that the newborns are given the food, affection, and medical attention they so urgently require. Not only are their immediate physical and emotional needs being met in this situation, but they are also assisting in giving them the finest possible start in life.

Watoto Children’s Choir

Each of the Watoto kids has gone through it in their own life.

However, through the church, these abandoned children can move into loving homes. They also make up the Watoto Children’s Choir which the congregation loves so much.

Keep a girl in school

For no other reason than that they lack money, many African girls drop out of school. Together, the Watoto church is reversing this trend by partnering with neighbourhood schools to offer sanitary towels and support the retention of girls in the classroom so they can realize their full potential.

Watoto Neighbourhood

In Africa, many women are left to take the weight of disease, poverty, and war. These women are welcomed by the church with open arms and given the tools they need to lead their communities and be moms to their kids.

Conclusion

One of Kampala, Uganda’s largest churches is the Watoto Church. As seen by the numerous branches it has across the nation, it is a place that commands visitors from all over the world.