After reading The Wonderful Story of Uganda last week (which inspired me to write Building on the Foundation of C.M.S Missionaries, Part 1), I went on to also read the book The Story of Mackay of Uganda. When I was done with it, I embarked on Bishop Alfred Tucker’s biography, Tucker of Uganda: Artist and Apostle (1849 – 1914). Midway through that book, which was Monday evening, God spoke to me (I think) that it was for our good that the country remains locked down for a little longer. A few hours later, President Museveni addressed the nation and did exactly that – he extended the lockdown.

By the time the Imperial British East African Company (IBEAC) made a treaty with Kabaka Mwanga, Buganda was practically in the midst of a civil war. Protestants, Roman Catholics, Muslims, and traditional religion adherents were each fighting for political superiority over the other. At a certain point, Mwanga planned to take and abandon all worshippers of the foreign religions on an island on Lake Victoria where they would starve to death. Before his plot could be executed, it was leaked to the public. War then broke out and Mwanga was dethroned by the Protestants and Muslims. He fled with the Catholics and traditionalists. Later, the Muslims turned against their war-time allies the Protestants so that they could have all power over the kingdom to only themselves. The Protestants then ganged up with the Catholics and the traditionalists, under Mwanga’s leadership.  Mwanga was handed the victory and regained the throne. However, the rivalry between Protestants and Catholics remained and another wave of violence was brewing. That was the timing of IBEAC’s entry into Uganda. Together with Bishop Tucker, IBEAC managed to restore and maintain peace in the region. Therefore, Christianity spread and the Church of God thrived.

IBEAC was a purely business enterprise. When it failed to make profits, it decided to withdraw and leave the country. However, its exit and resultant vacuum would be the catalyst for another civil war. If IBEAC withdrew, the Catholics (and Mwanga who since the aforementioned exile professed Catholicism) would pounce on the white Protestant missionaries and their hundreds of Baganda converts. This would stop the work of the Church Missionary Society (C.M.S) in spreading the gospel of Jesus Christ in Buganda and beyond. Bishop Tucker therefore intervened. He convinced IBEAC to stay for a little longer until the British government was ready to replace the Company. IBEAC indeed stayed a little longer but only after the Christians in England, specifically C.M.S, had raised and given tens of thousands of pounds to IBEAC to minimize their losses as a business. God’s work then prevailed.

It is at this point in my reading of Bishop Tucker’s biography that I think the Lord spoke to me concerning this lockdown extension: “The status quo should be maintained a little longer for the good of Uganda; just as IBEAC stayed a little longer in Uganda – despite the financial non-profitability – for the greater future good.” And that is exactly what the President announced moments later on Monday.

As I continued reading about Bishop Tucker, still before the President’s address, I came across something really interesting that made me think that God had indeed spoken to me that it is for our good that the lockdown is extended a little longer: One day, when Bishop Tucker had gone to take a bath, he found, not his old bathing sponge, but a new one. The reason why this little story was a ‘confirmation’ for me is because, less than an hour earlier, I had left the house to buy myself (and indeed returned with) a new bathing sponge!

I might be wrong to assume that God really spoke to me. However it is highly likely that He did. I leave it up to you to find out God’s opinion on the direction our government has taken to keep us ‘in our houses’ for some more days. Only be careful that you are not found fervently fighting that which is of God.

I really hurt for the many that are suffering terribly during this crisis. I pray for them and I offer financial help to them in as far as I am able. However, I choose to care more for the greater good that God will achieve for our country in this extension. It is highly probable that the extension is really to save us from the worst of COVID-19 from which, until now, God had shielded us as He spoke to Dr. Dennis Mugimba in a dream on 20th March 2020. In any case, all things, whether good or bad, will work together for good to those who love God.

Now, if God indeed spoke to me when I was reading about those who brought the gospel to Uganda, it serves as a compliment that I am currently doing the right thing at the right time; reading about the history of the Church in Uganda. That being the case, I am further inspired to celebrate the pioneer C.M.S missionaries who came to Uganda. I am also more than ever before inspired to properly build on the foundation of Jesus Christ which they laid. So must you.

Amen.