Watoto Church Ministries began in 1984, when Canadian missionaries Gary and Marilyn Skinner founded Kampala Pentecostal Church (KPC), now Watoto Church. After nearly four decades of leadership, they commissioned Pastors Julius and Vernita Rwotlonyo as their successors in February 2023. Through every season, Watoto has remained committed to a simple, integrated calling: celebrating Jesus Christ and caring for the community.

From its beginnings as a local congregation in Kampala, Watoto has grown into a multifaceted ministry serving Uganda and South Sudan through church campuses, small groups, vulnerable-child and women care, education, leadership development, media and agribusiness training. Across these expressions, the goal is not only to meet immediate needs, but also to raise godly transformational leaders who can rebuild families, communities and nations.

Watoto Church
Watoto Church is a cell-based community church with a congregation of more than 40,000 people gathering across 18 physical and online campuses in Uganda and Juba, South Sudan. Its more than 1,380 small groups create spaces for discipleship, fellowship and practical service. Members work together to address local needs through initiatives such as repairing water sources, improving sanitation, painting zebra crossings and refurbishing classroom blocks.

The church also equips leaders and extends its influence through several initiatives:
• The Watoto School of Community Leadership has trained more than 1,000 people since 2008, many of whom now lead in their respective spheres of influence.
• Miscio expands access to internationally recognised higher education through a partnership with Southeastern University, offering online bachelor’s, postgraduate and master’s programmes.
• Watoto Christian International Schools provide faith-based education from early childhood to Grade 12 through the Accelerated Christian Education curriculum.
• Power 104.1 FM reaches urban young people with inspirational Christian programming that seeks to transform culture with the love of Jesus.

Caring for Vulnerable Children
Watoto ChildCare Ministries was established in 1994 in response to the devastation caused by HIV/AIDS, which left many children orphaned and many women vulnerable. Since then, Watoto has cared for nearly 6,000 orphaned and vulnerable children, including rescued babies and former child soldiers, while empowering more than 8,700 vulnerable women to pursue sustainable lives of dignity.

At the heart of this work is the Watoto Village model. In Bbira, Suubi and Laminadera, children grow up in family-style homes rather than institutional orphanages. Each mother raises eight children as her own, supported by schools, medical facilities, churches and recreational spaces. More than 3,200 children are being raised in these three villages.

Baby Watoto 
Baby Watoto rescues abandoned, orphaned and vulnerable babies, generally from birth to two years old. Each child receives consistent maternal care from a nanny until they can transition into a permanent Watoto family or, where possible, be reunited with their existing family. Over the years, more than 1,600 babies have been rescued and given the opportunity to grow in a safe and loving environment.

Holistic Education
Education is central to Watoto’s mission of raising Africa’s transformational leaders. Seven schools operate within the three Watoto villages: three primary schools, three high schools and one vocational-technical institute. Alongside academic learning, students receive spiritual formation, character development and opportunities to develop their gifts through initiatives such as the Worship and Sports Academies.

Skills, Enterprise and Agribusiness
Hope Vocational & Technical Institute, established in 2005, equips young people with employable skills through certificate and diploma programmes. Its fields of study include electrical engineering, construction, plumbing, carpentry, automotive mechanics, fashion and design, catering, cosmetology, journalism, information technology and child development. More than 230 students have graduated, with about 300 currently enrolled.

The Bobi Agribusiness Institute (BAI), officially opened in 2024 in Omoro, Northern Uganda, extends this commitment into agriculture and enterprise. BAI provides technical knowledge, business training and hands-on experience in general agriculture, with specialisation in plant sciences, animal sciences or agribusiness.

Empowering Women, Girls and Families Through Watoto Neighbourhood, the ministry walks alongside vulnerable women in Kampala, Gulu and Juba. Since 2008, more than 8,700 women have received support through adult literacy, vocational training, business education and employment opportunities. The programme aims to restore dignity, strengthen families and enable women to build sustainable livelihoods. Since 2016, nearly 1,000 children of participating women have also been enrolled in Watoto and partner schools.

The Keep-A-Girl-In-School programme works with 84 schools in Uganda and South Sudan. It supports more than 12,000 adolescent girls through sanitary products, hygiene education, discipleship and pastoral care, helping them remain in school and reducing their exposure to preventable vulnerabilities.

Global Witness and Partnership
Since 1994, Watoto Children’s Choirs have travelled across Africa, Asia, Australia, Europe, and North and South America. The choirs share the Christian faith, raise awareness of Watoto’s work and develop leadership, confidence, responsibility and cross-cultural understanding among participating children.

Visit Watoto invites individuals, churches and organisations from Uganda and around the world to serve through practical projects and short- or long-term volunteer opportunities. Nearly 1,000 volunteers serve with Watoto each year, contributing their skills and resources to the ministry’s work.

A Continuing Mission Watoto Church Ministries represents an integrated model of local-church ministry, discipleship, compassionate care, education, leadership development and community transformation. What began as one congregation in Kampala has become a ministry with wide-reaching impact. Its continuing purpose is clear: to celebrate Christ, care for people and raise leaders who will transform Africa and the world.

Leadership and Governance
Watoto Church maintains a strong commitment to sound governance, transparency, and accountability. As the mother entity, the Church is governed by a Church Council, while its affiliated entities operate under the oversight of their respective Boards. To ensure financial integrity and accountability, all entities undergo a