Bishop Hannington’s Story of Generosity & Rebuilding
Context & Crisis
- In 2001, the EF Army overtook parts of Western Uganda, displacing 80,000+ survivors into refugee camps.
- Life in the camps was devastating: families crowded in small shelters, no food for days, little water, hopelessness, and a broken moral fabric.
Bishop Hannington’s Response
- Felt burdened that people should give from the heart, not duty.
- Remembered the principle: everything we have belongs to God.
- Began sharing what little they had—blankets, food, resources—starting with orphans.
- After two years, they returned home to find farms destroyed, churches demolished, and schools ruined.
A New Vision
- Instead of asking, “How can the West help us?”, Hannington challenged his people to ask:
“How can we use what God has already given us to rebuild?” - Encouraged mechanics, businesspeople, and tradesmen to use their skills to restore the community.
- Pastors spread the message of giving and self-reliance.
Transformation
- Slowly, piece by piece, the town was rebuilt:
- Churches reconstructed.
- Homes and schools restored.
- Orphans provided for.
- The community embraced the principle of creating wealth to enable generosity.
- A cycle of sustainability was established, replacing dependency with empowerment.
Lasting Impact
- Today, the community thrives as a testimony that generosity is transformational.
- The grace of giving replaced the welfare mentality.
- Out of war and destruction, a new culture of giving rebuilt an entire town.