Learning to lead in Uganda

The African Bible Leadership Initiative (ABLI), funded by supporters of Bible Society, explored the biblical concept of mentorship at its annual gathering

ABLI wants to see African communities transformed as their leaders embrace the message of the Bible. An amazing array of leaders gathered in Uganda, coming from 25 countries and representing a number of professions, with the goal of establishing a Christian mentorship platform for African youth.

The forum was opened on Wednesday 26 October by Catherine Bamugemereire, a justice in Uganda’s second highest court. As an anti-corruption judge exposing multi-billion dollar scams and receiving death threats in the process, she says the Bible is her inspiration. She and her team would read the Bible together as a way of overcoming of fear.

Rev Dr Samuel Kobia, a presidential advisor from Kenya and a former head of the World Council of Churches, took a very African position of the value of elders. In his address on the final day of the forum, he developed the idea that our ever-increasing experience of both success and failure is a powerful resource in offering mentoring to younger people. 

Esther Acolatse, who makes the case for the Bible in an academic context as a professor at the University of Toronto, explained how a mentor uses power in a life-giving way. Other speakers and delegates came from a great range of backgrounds and included past and present leaders of African Bible Societies, all sharing the desire to see the Bible produce a new generation of leaders.

You can get a sense of the passion ABLI has for young people by watching this video from a past event.