About the Provincial Youth & Students Ministry
The Provincial Youth & Students Ministry is the official youth arm of the Church of Uganda, dedicated to discipling, equipping, and mobilizing young people for holistic transformation. Rooted in the Church’s long history of youth involvement from the early converts and martyrs of the 1880s to the vibrant fellowships of today the ministry continues to affirm that young people are central to the life and mission of the Church.
Youth in the Church of Uganda are defined as persons between the ages of 12 and 35 years, a demographic that represents the majority of Uganda’s population. To serve them effectively, the ministry recognizes three distinct categories: Teens (12–17), Youth (18–23), and Young Adults (24–35). Each group has unique needs and opportunities, and the ministry provides specialized programs to nurture their spiritual growth, leadership capacity, and social empowerment.
The vision of the Provincial Youth & Students Ministry is clear: Christ‑centred young people transforming nations. Its mission is to intentionally disciple young people for holistic growth and productivity. This means that youth ministry is not limited to worship and fellowship, but extends to leadership development, employability, advocacy, and community transformation.
The ministry is structured to ensure youth participation at every level of the Church from local congregations and chaplaincies to diocesan synods and the Provincial Assembly. Leadership committees, guided by ordained youth pastors, ministers, and elected youth leaders, provide governance and pastoral oversight. At the provincial level, the Directorate of Youth and Children’s Ministry coordinates programs, supported by advisory and technical teams.
Core mandates of the ministry include mainstreaming youth involvement in church life, securing a youth vote in church budgets, organizing evangelistic and teaching gatherings such as PAYSCO (Provincial Anglican Youth & Students Conference) and DAYSCO (Diocesan Anglican Youth & Students Conference), and resourcing youth for missions and marketplace ministry. The ministry also emphasizes talent development in worship, arts, and innovation, alongside tooling and retooling youth for employability and sustainability.
Beyond the Church, the Provincial Youth & Students Ministry engages society with kingdom principles, advocating for youth‑friendly policies and programs in partnership with government, civil society, and international networks. It embraces modern communication tools, ICT platforms, and media outreach to connect with young people in schools, universities, and online spaces.
At its heart, the ministry is about comprehensive discipleship helping young people follow Christ in daily life and equipping them to influence their communities and nation for God’s Kingdom. By harnessing the gifts, creativity, and energy of Uganda’s youth, the Provincial Youth & Students Ministry seeks to secure the future of the Church and contribute to the transformation of society.
