Watoto Church

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Watoto Church is a large Pentecostal church in Kampala, Uganda. The name Watoto means “the children” in Swahili. It was founded on April 22, 1984, by Canadian missionaries Gary Skinner and Marilyn Skinner. They started in Kampala’s Imperial Hotel and later moved to a renovated cinema called The Centre. In February 2023, the Skinners stepped down as leaders and were succeeded by Julius and Vernita Rwotlonyo.

Watoto’s main church is Watoto Church Downtown, with many branches across Kampala and other parts of Uganda, as well as in Juba, South Sudan. Branches include Ntinda, Bweyogerere, Lubowa, Kyengera, Kansanga, Bugolobi, Entebbe, Bbira, Suubi, Gulu, Laminadera, Mbarara, Jinja, Nansana, Mukono, and more.

The church runs Watoto Child Care Ministries, which helps vulnerable children and women. It is best known for the Watoto Children’s Choirs, which tour internationally to raise funds. Watoto also operates three villages that house more than 3,000 orphaned children.

Watoto Church is guided by a Church Council at the top, with three teams: the Pastoral Team, the Elders’ Team, and the Deacons’ Team. Deacons manage daily operations, finances, and church property; Elders oversee direction and doctrine; the Pastoral Team provides spiritual leadership. Current leaders include Julius and Vernita Rwotlonyo as the overall heads of Watoto ministries, and Pastor Edward Mwesigye as head of the pastoral team.

The church holds a Christmas cantata each year and, every four years, a large dramatic production called Heaven’s Gates and Hell’s Flames.

Watoto has faced criticism at times, including questions during the COVID-19 period about the children’s choir tour and past debates over its stance on sexuality. Despite these, Watoto remains a major religious and charitable presence in Uganda.