Karamoja Update - May 2026

Over the past four weeks, we have seen God moving powerfully across the villages of Karamoja through food relief, agriculture, discipleship, and new opportunities to invest in children and the Gospel.

Last month, the April food run was distributed successfully, and the May food run is currently underway. Our food runs particularly focus on grandmothers and the elderly who remain especially vulnerable after years of drought and famine. While food relief continues to be essential for survival, we are also prayerfully considering how to strengthen long-term community resilience and development alongside these efforts.

One of the greatest encouragements has been the success of the new plowing initiative led by Isaac and Gabriel. Across several villages, elders worked together to secure land for cultivation, and villagers united to prepare and plant large fields of sorghum. The work was incredibly difficult as tractors broke up hard virgin ground that then had to be manually prepared with hoes before planting. Yet men and women worked side by side with remarkable cooperation and enthusiasm.

One especially powerful moment came as more than 60 villagers gathered at the edge of a freshly planted field in Lokororot. Together Frank and Sue shared from 2 Chronicles 7:13–14 and prayed for God to heal the land and send rain. At that time, no rain was forecast and conditions were extremely dry. Yet that very night rain began to fall, and within 24 hours all the newly planted fields had received sufficient rain. Over the next week, regular rainfall continued and the sorghum has already germinated. The faith of the villagers has been deeply strengthened as they witnessed God answer prayer so clearly.

We were also encouraged to see the ongoing impact of the “Faith Gardens,” especially in villages like Nathuguru and Lopur where families continue growing cow peas and experimenting with new crops such as yams. Although some gardens have diminished as energy shifted toward the larger community fields, we are praying for renewed vision for household gardening and nutrition.

Pastor Moses was even able to join Frank and Sue in Karamoja for a few days at the end of April! We were able to take him to a couple of villages where he encouraged them from God’s Word and prayed for them. In addition, Isaac and Gabriel were able to attend an Advance conference in Nairobi, Kenya with Pastor Moses that is just finishing at the time of writing this update. We are so encouraged by his leadership and mentorship as we explore church planting in our villages.

Perhaps most exciting has been the growing vision for Early Childhood Development Centers (ECDCs). Through conversations with trusted ministries already serving in Karamoja, we have become increasingly convinced that investing in children during their earliest years is essential for long-term transformation. We are exploring possible partnerships with these ministries to provide early learning and care for young children while helping establish a Gospel foundation for future generations. We are also exploring the use of solar-powered audio Bible devices to help deepen discipleship in the villages.

At the center of all of this remains the Gospel.

Throughout their stay in Karamoja, Frank and Sue along with our TCI Uganda leaders, Isaac and Gabriel, continued to shares Bible stories and disciple families through the StoryRunners (a Cru Ministry) method. Everywhere they traveled, villagers enthusiastically retold Bible stories and shared how they are teaching them to their children and neighbors. The below video is the story of the prodigal son (Luke 15) shared by a Karamojong woman to many children followed by a video of Frank and Sue sharing the story of the unforgiving servant (Matthew 18) to Nathuguru and Lopuri villages:

Frank and Sue left Uganda on May 14 and are now spending a couple of weeks with extended family and friends in France for some much needed rest and relaxation after over two months serving in Africa. They have deeply touched the lives of so many in Uganda, especially among the children. The evidence of God's work is so tangible.

Thank you to all of our generous donors! We continue to need more financial partners to keep funding the food relief and Gospel work in Karamoja. Please consider giving through the link below:

Lastly and most of all, we need your prayers! Please continue praying for these Karamojong people - for God’s Gospel to continue advancing, Isaac and Gabriel as they continue to minister in the villages, rain for the crops and FAITH gardens, and for us as we explore potential new ministry partnerships and church planting.

By Ryan Matthews, Executive Director of TCI