In a bid to strengthen both faith and livelihoods, Christians from St. Andrew’s Kancerere Church of Uganda in Kinkiizi Diocese have taken an agricultural benchmarking tour in North Kigezi Diocese.

The initiative, led by Rev. Daniel Buregyeya, reflects the Church’s growing commitment to integrate farming into ministry, empowering Christians to walk faithfully while also living sustainably.

During the visit, Rev. Buregyeya explained that the main purpose was to learn best practices in agriculture, especially coffee growing, so that Christians are empowered to fight poverty. He noted that his parish has already planted six acres of coffee as part of a wider commitment to self-sustainability.

The North Kigezi Diocesan Secretary emphasized that the church depends on the economic well-being of Christians for survival and development. He pointed out that income-generating activities such as coffee farming provide a strong foundation for the growth of the church and that the diocese has already embarked on similar projects to support its ministry.

Maama Florence Asiimwe commended the hard work of Mr. and Mrs. Rutera in coffee farming and encouraged church leaders to embrace farming as a way of achieving sustainability and improving community livelihoods. 

Mr. Rutera, who hosted the team, urged churches to put their land to productive use instead of leaving it idle. He explained that relying only on Sunday collections is not sustainable in the long term, and agricultural projects can provide more reliable income.

The Provincial Communications Officer, Mr. Sadiiki Adams, reiterated that the Church of Uganda is committed to household and community transformation. He explained that the church cannot depend solely on tithes and offerings but must also adopt practical strategies for sustainability. He added that benchmarking visits across dioceses are intended to share lessons, successes, and challenges in order to build a stronger, self-reliant church.

The benchmarking tour reflects the Church of Uganda’s ongoing efforts to integrate agriculture into ministry, ensuring that Christians are not only spiritually nourished but also economically empowered.