The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints in Uganda
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The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints in Uganda refers to the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (LDS Church) and its members in Uganda. A branch was created in Kampala in 1991, and by year-end 1991, there were 99 members in Uganda. In 2025, there were 26,304 members in over 62 congregations.
History
The first Ugandan to join the LDS Church was Charles Osinde, who was baptized in Scotland and returned to Uganda.[1]
The LDS Church was profiled in the Broadway musical The Book of Mormon that premiered in 2011.[5] The story follows two missionaries in Uganda.
In 2012, The New York Times profiled an LDS Church missionary, Jared Dangerfield, as he served in Uganda, "Each day he rises with the African sun to say his prayers before venturing into the urban wilderness of Kampala, Uganda, a churning kaleidoscope of motorcycles, street urchins, vegetable carts and pterodactyl-like storks that circle office towers and lampposts. They orbit above him as he makes his way up and down the muddy hills of the capital city, careful to keep his black pants and white shirt clean, scanning faces in search of those who will listen to him speak of his faith. His Mormon faith."[6]
Stakes and Districts
As of July 2026, the following stakes and districts were located in Uganda.
| Stake | Organized | Mission |
|---|---|---|
| Busia Uganda District | 17 Nov 2024 | Uganda Kampala East |
| Gulu Uganda Stake | 7 Dec 2025 | Uganda Kampala West |
| Jinja Uganda East Stake | 29 Nov 2015 | Uganda Kampala East |
| Jinja Uganda West Stake | 2 Aug 2026 | Uganda Kampala East |
| Kampala Uganda North Stake | 17 Jan 2010 | Uganda Kampala East |
| Kampala Uganda South Stake | 22 Jan 2017 | Uganda Kampala West |
| Lira Uganda District | 12 Jan 2025 | Uganda Kampala East |
| Masaka Uganda District | 6 Jan 2019 | Uganda Kampala West |
| Mbale Uganda District | 17 Nov 2024 | Uganda Kampala East |
Branches not part of a stake or district include:
- Bukomero Branch
- Buwenge Branch
- Kibale Branch
- Mbarara Branch
- Soroti Branch
- Uganda Kampala East Dispersed Members Unit
- Uganda Kampala West Dispersed Members Unit
The Uganda Kampala Dispersed Members Unit serves families and individuals in Uganda and South Sudan that are not in proximity of a meetinghouse.
Mission
The Uganda Kampala Mission was created in 2005 as a division of the Kenya Nairobi Mission. In 2012, the mission split again creating the Rwanda Kigali Mission. [7] As of November 2025, the Uganda Kampala Mission remains the only mission of the LDS Church in Uganda and also encompasses South Sudan. In October 2025, the LDS Church announced the Uganda Kampala Mission will be divided to create the Uganda Kampala East Mission in July 2026.[8]
| Mission | Organized |
|---|---|
| Uganda Kampala East | 1 July 2026 |
| Uganda Kampala West | 1 July 2005 |
South Sudan
The LDS Church has reported no official church membership and congregational figures. Member groups in Juba and Akobo operated starting in 2009 but was discontinued during a civil war in the mid 2010s.[9] A branch in Juba started appearing on the LDS Church's website in their meetinghouse locator in 2025.[10] The rest of South Sudan is included in the Uganda Kampala West Dispersed Members Unit which serves individuals and families not in proximity to a meetinghouse.
Temples
Uganda is currently in the Johannesburg South Africa Temple district. On April 2, 2017, the Nairobi Kenya Temple was announced by Church President Thomas S. Monson.
On October 6, 2024, President Russell M. Nelson announced that a temple will be built in the capital city of Kampala.
|
edit | ||
| Location: Announced: |
Kampala, Uganda 6 October 2024 by Russell M. Nelson[11][12] | ||
