East Africa Central Conference

Janat Twahirwa from Wiceceka distributes condoms to participants during a World AIDS Day event on Dec. 1 in the Mukamira Sector of Rwanda’s Nyabihu District. “Wiceceka” means “do not keep silent” in English. During the event, Twahirwa had a particular focus on providing condoms to peer educators, so that they can further share them with their peers as part of ongoing HIV prevention efforts. Photo by Samuel Iraguha Shema.

Church, Rwandan officials unite to fight AIDS

In a significant shift, United Methodists in Rwanda are working to prevent the spread of HIV and AIDS in full public partnership with the East African country’s authorities.

Theology and Education

The Rev. Valentine Cimpaye, Bujumbura District superintendent, stands in front of one of the destroyed buildings of the Lycée Technique Mgr. Jean Alfred Ndoricimpa secondary school in Bujumbura, Burundi. The United Methodist school was severely damaged by recent storms. Also pictured are Niyomwungere Juvénal (left), Lycée’s technical director, and Makarakiza Obed (right), district lay leader. Photo by Jerome Ndayisenga, UM News.

Storm destroys United Methodist school in Burundi

Founded in 2022, the church school is the only secondary school in the Rubirizi region, home to around 21,000 people.

Disaster Relief

Women wait for vegetable oil at the Malicha internally displaced camp in Fizi, Congo. The United Methodist Church distributed 74 tons of supplies to survivors of two fires that ravaged the camp in August and October. The aid included rice, corn flour, salt, sugar, beans, soap, toothbrushes and more. Photo courtesy of the East Congo Episcopal Area disaster management office.

Church helps survivors of fire in Congo

The United Methodist Church has provided food and other supplies to 5,000 survivors of two fires that ravaged a camp for displaced people.

Mission and Ministry

The Rev. Emmanuel Sinzohagera is The United Methodist Church’s legal representative in Burundi and serves as the speaker of the Senate, the third highest-ranking office in the country. “Whether I stand behind the pulpit or in the parliament, my mission remains unaltered: to serve God and uplift our community,” he said. Photo by Isaac Broune, UM News.

Church leaders bridge faith, politics in Burundi

Three prominent United Methodists credit their accomplishments to the profound teachings of the church and their faith in God.

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