By Johannah Nantongo
KAMPALA — Pastor Patience Rwabwogo, founder and senior leader of Covenant Nations Church and daughter of President Yoweri Museveni, is set to be consecrated as a bishop on August 23 in a ceremony that will coincide with the church’s 20th anniversary.
The consecration will formally recognize her leadership over Covenant Nations Church’s congregations in Uganda and internationally. The event is expected to attract senior religious leaders, government officials and thousands of worshippers from within Uganda and abroad.
International evangelist Bishop LaDonna Osborn will preside over the consecration service. President Yoweri Museveni and First Lady Janet Museveni are among the dignitaries expected to attend.
Pastor Rwabwogo said the celebrations will also feature prominent Nigerian church leaders, including Pastor Enoch Adeboye and Pastor Folu Adeboye, whom she regards as her spiritual mentors. Worship ministers Emmanuel Roro and Helen Yilma from Israel are also expected to lead praise and worship during the event.
Reflecting on the milestone, Rwabwogo described the occasion as a testimony of God’s faithfulness over the past two decades. She said the church, which started as a small fellowship meeting in a home, has grown into a ministry impacting communities across Uganda and beyond.
She added that accepting the office of bishop is not about personal achievement but a greater commitment to serving God and His people, encouraging Christians from different nations to participate in the celebrations.
In a recorded message, Bishop LaDonna Osborn praised Rwabwogo’s contribution to Christian ministry, describing her as one of Uganda’s influential church leaders whose work continues to inspire believers locally and internationally.
Osborn said the consecration would be more than a church ceremony, expressing hope that it would become a moment of spiritual encouragement for Uganda and the wider Christian community represented at the event.
Over the past 20 years, Covenant Nations Church has expanded its focus beyond regular worship services to include Bible teaching, discipleship and leadership development. The ministry encourages believers to apply biblical principles in their families, workplaces, businesses and public service.
Rwabwogo has also invested heavily in youth ministry, frequently speaking to students and young professionals about leadership and purpose. In 2025, she launched a Christian fellowship at Kampala International University aimed at helping students strengthen their faith while preparing for future leadership roles.
The church also spearheads the Light Up Uganda for Jesus evangelistic campaign, which has brought together thousands of Christians from different denominations through regional and national revival gatherings.
Throughout her ministry, Rwabwogo has advocated for an inclusive church that welcomes people from all walks of life while encouraging Christians to positively influence society through biblical values. She has also emphasized entrepreneurship, responsible stewardship and economic empowerment alongside spiritual growth.
President Museveni has previously commended his daughter’s ministry, expressing gratitude that she has continued the family’s commitment to spreading the Christian faith. He has also praised both Patience and her husband, businessman Odrek Rwabwogo, for instilling Christian values and a strong work ethic in their children.
Bishop LaDonna Osborn’s participation continues a long-standing relationship between the Osborn family and Uganda. Her parents, renowned evangelists T.L. Osborn and Daisy Osborn, conducted large gospel crusades in the country during the 1980s, playing a significant role in the growth of Pentecostal and evangelical Christianity.
In 2025, Osborn returned to Uganda to headline the Light Up Uganda for Jesus Gospel Convention at Kololo Independence Grounds. The event concluded with a national prayer service attended by President Museveni, First Lady Janet Museveni and church leaders, who prayed for the country’s peace, justice, unity and continued prosperity.
Ahead of that convention, Patience and Odrek Rwabwogo travelled across the country mobilizing Christian leaders from various denominations, including Pentecostal and Anglican churches, through regional revival meetings that laid the groundwork for the nationwide campaign.