A quiet chapel hall at Makerere University Business School in Nakawa turned into a platform for a national conversation on faith and safety this week.
Religious leaders, security officials, and members of academia gathered there for the launch of a new handbook meant to guide churches through an area many congregations have historically overlooked—security planning.
The book, titled “The Church Security Manual,” was authored by Maj. Joakim Bukenya, and its unveiling drew the weight of government endorsement through Vice President Maj. (Rtd) Jessica Alupo.
Alupo could not attend in person, so she sent her message through Minister for the Presidency and Budiope West MP, Hon. Babirye Milly Babalanda, who read it on her behalf.
A Shared Responsibility, Not Government’s Alone
Babalanda opened her remarks by reminding the gathering that while government carries the primary duty of protecting citizens, that duty does not end at the doors of State House or police stations.
Every institution, she said, and every citizen too, has a role to play in preventing threats before they occur.
She pointed to the sheer scale of Sunday gatherings across Uganda’s churches, mosques, and other places of worship as a reason this conversation could no longer be postponed.
Ensuring safety in these crowded spaces, she said, “is not merely a security matter, it is a responsibility towards human life and the protection of our communities.”
Her message carried a tone of urgency, cautioning against complacency until tragedy forces action.
“We should not wait for a security incident to happen before we begin asking questions about preparedness. The principle should be: ‘Prevention is better than reaction,'” she emphasized.
For a minister whose portfolio sits at the center of coordinating government programmes nationwide, the appeal fit into a broader theme she has pushed since taking office—that institutions must be proactive rather than reactive.
She also wove in a spiritual dimension to the appeal, one likely to resonate with the largely faith-based audience in the room.
“As Christians, we believe that God is our ultimate protector. However, God also expects us to use the knowledge, wisdom and capabilities that He has given us to protect one another,” she added.
Vice President Alupo’s Message: Security as a Shared Duty
Through her written remarks, Alupo congratulated Maj. Bukenya for producing what she described as an important contribution to the national conversation on security.
She framed the launch itself as a significant moment for the country.
“It is a great honor to join you on this important occasion to witness the launch of the Church Security Manual. This book comes at an important time when we must recognize that security is a shared responsibility,” she said.
The timing of the publication is notable, arriving at a period when several Ugandan dioceses have been grappling with real threats to their premises and personnel.
Mukono Diocese, for instance, has in recent years reported spending millions of shillings monthly on private security to guard church property against land grabbers, with clergy and lay workers attacked in some incidents.
Cases like these underline why a structured, published approach to church safety carries practical urgency beyond ceremonial value.
Inside the Manual: Beyond Guns and Guards
According to the summary presented at the launch, the manual does not confine itself narrowly to terrorism or violent crime.
Instead, it takes a wider view of what keeps a congregation safe, covering risk assessment, security planning, emergency preparedness, and intelligence gathering.
Alupo urged churches to strengthen their cooperation with security agencies as part of this wider approach, cautioning against a common but risky mindset.
Security institutions, she said, “should not be viewed only as institutions to be called after an incident has occurred.”
She then issued a direct call to religious leaders and administrators across the country to take ownership of the issue.
“I call upon religious leaders and church administrators across Uganda to take the issue of security seriously. Every church, whether large or small, urban or rural, should undertake a basic assessment of the risks facing its congregation and develop practical measures to address those risks,” she said.
Maj. Bukenya, speaking at the function himself, went further into the specifics of what his book offers churches on the ground.
He explained that it provides practical guidance on establishing church security committees, and on organising and training those committees once formed.
It also addresses the often-overlooked role of ushers and volunteers, who are typically the first line of contact during any Sunday service.
Protecting children came up as a distinct priority area, with the manual offering guidance on effective Sunday school policies designed to safeguard the youngest members of a congregation.
Securing church premises and parking areas features prominently too, alongside guidance on developing security integration systems and adopting appropriate technology.
“The book provides practical guidance on establishing church security committees and organising and training security committees, enhancing the role of ushers and volunteers, protecting children through effective Sunday school policies, securing church premises and parking areas, developing security integration systems and integrating appropriate technologies,” he said.
He described the overall philosophy behind the work as a balanced one, blending different disciplines rather than leaning on any single approach.
He said the manual promotes an approach that combines “faith, leadership, planning, technology and professional security management.”
A Proposed Ministry for Church Security Awareness
One of the more forward-looking ideas to emerge from the launch was Maj. Bukenya’s proposal to establish a dedicated Ministry of Church Security Awareness.
Such a body, according to the proposal, would be tasked with sensitizing and training churches across the country on security matters.
Alupo welcomed the idea, commending the initiative and encouraging that it be pursued in close cooperation with religious leaders and relevant government institutions.
She tied the proposal, and the manual more broadly, to government’s wider peace and stability agenda.
“Therefore, the security of places of worship is part of the broader effort to maintain peace, stability and social harmony in Uganda,” she said.
Gratitude and a Call to Action
Before officially launching the book on government’s behalf, Babalanda extended appreciation to the country’s uniformed institutions for their role in public safety.
She commended the UPDF and Uganda Police Force for their continued efforts to protect Ugandans, and thanked religious leaders for their part in promoting peace, unity, and moral values.
She did not stop at security, using the platform to rally the religious leaders present toward two other national priorities championed by President Museveni.
She urged them to honour the President’s call in the fight against corruption, and to embrace government wealth-creation programmes aimed at growing household incomes and reducing poverty.
Maj. Bukenya, for his part, used his remarks to acknowledge the institutions and individuals he credited with making the book possible.
He commended President Yoweri Museveni for what he described as good leadership, and thanked Chief of Defence Forces Gen. Muhoozi Kainerugaba and the wider UPDF leadership for the knowledge and skills that shaped his work.
He also thanked Minister Babalanda personally for honouring the invitation while standing in for the Vice President.
The event closed with Babalanda formally launching “The Church Security Manual” on behalf of government, an act that placed an official stamp on what organisers hope will become a reference tool for congregations nationwide.
Religious leaders, academics, and security officials who filled the MUBS hall for the occasion now carry with them a document that its author hopes will move church safety from an afterthought to a standing practice, one risk assessment and one trained usher at a time.
