How Ugandan Women Are Changing The Face Of Church Leadership
When President Yoweri Museveni assumed power in 1986 after a five-year protracted war, he promised Ugandans a “fundamental change.” At the time, the country was deeply polarized along political party lines and the economy lay in ruins.
Nearly four decades later, many Ugandans are still waiting for that transformative change to materialize across key sectors. Some had hoped it would come through economic empowerment or expanded human rights. While the broader national transformation remains elusive, one sector — Uganda’s Anglican Church — has seen notable progress, particularly in advancing women’s leadership.
Since Christianity’s arrival in Uganda in the late 1800s, church leadership had long been a male domain. For decades, men occupied the highest positions while women were confined to auxiliary roles — collecting tithes, cleaning church premises and serving in women’s ministries. Even in foundational stories like that of the Uganda Martyrs, where women also played crucial roles, their contributions were often marginalized or overlooked.
These days, the landscape is shifting. Women are increasingly breaking through long-standing barriers and ascending to high-ranking positions within the Anglican Church. Today, more women are in seminaries and others are applying for ordination.
Though no woman has been appointed bishop, they have begun to serve as provosts, deans, diocesan treasurers and heads of laity. This marks a significant departure from tradition and represents a step forward in gender equality within the church.
Historically, traditional African society regarded women as subordinate to men in almost every sphere of life — a belief reinforced by early church structures in Uganda. Women were expected to focus on domestic responsibilities such as cooking, raising children and managing households.
The idea of women holding prominent positions in religious institutions was virtually unimaginable. Gender-based violence, including spousal abuse, was not only widespread but also culturally tolerated. The current transformation in the Church, therefore, reflects a broader societal shift — one that challenges deep-rooted cultural norms and redefines women’s roles in both faith and public life. This quiet but powerful revolution signals a cultural awakening and a reevaluation of gender roles within the religious sphere.
A significant milestone in this journey was the recent election of Professor Elizabeth Kukunda Bacwayo, a lecturer at Uganda Christian University, as the Head of Laity in the Kampala Diocese. Although she is not the first woman to hold this position, her appointment was widely celebrated and underscores the growing confidence in female leadership within the Church.
Around the same time, in eastern Uganda’s Busoga Diocese, the Very Rev. Canon Dr. Joy Mukisa Isabirye became the first woman to be installed as dean — a role historically reserved for men. These women are following in the footsteps of trailblazers like the Very Rev. Canon Dr. Rebecca Margaret Nyegenye, who in 2019 became the first female Provost in the Church of Uganda.
To many Ugandans, the rise of women to top leadership positions within the Anglican Church echoes the fundamental change President Museveni once promised. According to Rev. Dr. Richard Mulindwa, Anglican Church Relations Officer at Uganda Christian University, these appointments mark a major turning point. He believes the Church may soon see its first female bishop, following in the footsteps of neighboring Kenya, where such appointments have already occurred.
“The only position women have not yet occupied in the Anglican Church of Uganda is that of a bishop. However, momentum is building. Trust in women leaders is at an all-time high,” Mulindwa said, adding, “The Canon law of the Anglican Church of Uganda does not prohibit women from holding any leadership office, including that of bishop.”
Mulindwa added that the delay in appointing women to top leadership positions within the Anglican Church of Uganda is more cultural than doctrinal, rooted in traditional norms that have historically disadvantaged women.
These barriers, he noted, are steadily eroding. The progress within the church is also a product of broader societal shifts, many of which have been fostered by deliberate government policies and international support for gender equality. Since assuming power, Museveni has prioritized women’s empowerment, particularly in education and leadership.
His administration introduced a policy that awarded an extra free 1.5 points to female students applying to public universities to help close the gender gap. He appointed Uganda’s first female Vice-President, Specioza Wandira Kazibwe (1994–2003), and supported the rise of prominent women leaders such as Rebecca Kadaga and Jessica Alupo.
Today, Uganda’s Prime Minister, Robinah Nabbanja, is also a woman. Notably, women were active participants during the 1981-1986 guerrilla war that brought Museveni to power, serving on the frontlines and in key intelligence roles.
These gains are now echoing into the religious sphere. In the early 2000s, Uganda’s Pentecostal churches saw a surge of women leaders, many of whom began as pastors’ girlfriends and later became pastors in their own right.
Similar shifts are now occurring in the Anglican Church, as women move from the margins to the pulpit and the boardroom. Women currently holding influential Church roles are determined to inspire others to follow suit. They want to demonstrate that leadership is not limited by gender but defined by competence and calling.
“Society may not always value women or offer them leadership opportunities, but God does,” Bacwayo said. “Women should be inspired not just to take up positions of leadership, but to believe they are capable and called by God.”
Canon Nyegenye echoed that sentiment, encouraging women in Church leadership to remain resilient and spiritually grounded.
“Self-belief and a deep relationship with God are your strongest tools,” she said. “We must build a pipeline of leaders. This is not about tokenism — it’s about preparing capable, spirit-led women to take on influential roles.”
Canon Nyegenye further cautioned women against seeking positions for their own sake. Instead, she emphasized pursuing purpose over power.
While the presence of women in top Church leadership is a relatively new and evolving development in Uganda, women have always played vital roles in the faith’s history. From the Old Testament to the New, Scripture is filled with stories of courageous and visionary women.
Deborah, a prophet and judge, and Esther, who risked her life to save her people, are enduring symbols of female leadership and divine purpose. In the New Testament, women like Mary Magdalene were the first witnesses to Christ’s resurrection, while others, such as Priscilla, taught and evangelized alongside male apostles.
These biblical narratives challenge the notion that women were passive bystanders in religious history. Instead, they affirm women’s spiritual authority and leadership potential.
Today, many churches draw on these examples to champion women’s full participation in ministry. Though practices vary across denominations, Scripture — when read holistically — supports a vision of partnership and mutual respect between men and women in the shared pursuit of faith, justice and service.
Additional reporting by Yasiri J. Kasango
John Semakula, an award-winning journalist and alumnus of the Poynter Institute, is based in Mukono, Uganda.