The Seventh-day Adventist Church has new leadership in the East-Central Africa Division (ECD), the division to which the Rwanda Union Mission belongs. On 2 November 2026, the General Conference Executive Committee, meeting virtually, approved Dr. Moses Ndimukika Maka as ECD President and Dr. Tom Ogal as ECD Executive Secretary. The ECD Executive Committee had chosen both leaders on 29 October 2026, and they take up their new roles immediately.
Dr. Moses Maka, President
Dr. Maka has served as ECD Secretary since his election at the 62nd General Conference Session in July 2025. Before that he led the Uganda Union Mission, where five new fields were established during his time as president. Born in Uganda in 1969, he entered church ministry in 1995 and has served as a pastor, district director, teacher and administrator, with a strong focus on evangelism, discipleship and church planting.
He holds a Bachelor of Theology from Spicer Adventist University in India, a Master of Theology from Newbold College in the United Kingdom, and a PhD in Old Testament Theology and Exegesis from Sahmyook University in South Korea. He and his wife, Janet, have four children.
In accepting the call, Dr. Maka thanked Pr. Ruguri, asked church members for their prayers and support, and pledged to lead as a servant, seeking unity, mission and Christ above position.
Dr. Tom Ogal, Executive Secretary
Dr. Ogal has served as ECD Undersecretary since August 2022, following seven years as an associate secretary of the division. He previously served as secretary of the Kenya Lake Conference and Kenya Lake Field, as a church pastor, and as an editor at Africa Herald Publishing House. He holds a BA in Theology, an MA in Pastoral Theology and a Doctor of Ministry, and was ordained in 2006. He and his wife, Benter, have been married for 22 years and have three children.
Dr. Ogal described the appointment as an honor and expressed his desire to remain faithful to God and His church.
A word from the General Conference
General Conference President Erton C. Köhler reminded the new leaders that church leadership is first a call to serve God and His people, and prayed that Dr. Maka would lead with humility, courage and commitment to mission. General Conference Secretary Rick McEdward welcomed Dr. Ogal and said he looked forward to working with him to reach communities that have had little exposure to the gospel.
Thanking Pr. Blasious Ruguri
Pr. Blasious Ruguri, who has led the East-Central Africa Division for 16 years, will retire on 31 December 2026 and will serve in an advisory role until then. The division expressed its gratitude for his many years of dedicated service.
The Rwanda Union Mission joins the whole division in thanking Pr. Ruguri and in praying for Dr. Maka and Dr. Ogal as they take up their new responsibilities.
Source: Adventist News Network, 2 November 2026.
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