Kinshasa – Congolese President Félix-Antoine Tshisekedi Tshilombo on Monday hosted a delegation of religious leaders led by Ugandan evangelist Dr. Robert Kayanja and Archbishop Evariste Ejiba Yamapia, head of the Church of Awakening in Congo (ERC), for a high-level discussion on peacebuilding, spiritual revival, and regional agricultural cooperation.
The meeting, held at the presidential palace on Mount Ngaliema, focused on ongoing efforts to pacify the volatile eastern region of the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), while also exploring avenues for cross-border collaboration in agriculture and food security.
Dr. Kayanja, who also serves as President Yoweri Museveni’s personal pastor, lauded President Tshisekedi’s leadership and expressed gratitude for the opportunity to engage in dialogue on Congolese soil.
“Congo is very dear to us. It stood up for Africa in so many ways,” said Kayanja, who recalled his family’s historic missionary roots in the DRC.
He also announced that renowned American evangelist Pastor Benny Hinn is planning to hold a major crusade in Kinshasa, an initiative that received full endorsement from President Tshisekedi. The date for the event is expected to be confirmed in the coming weeks.
Kayanja spoke with emotion about the spiritual link between the DRC and East Africa, describing Congo as the cradle of regional awakening.
“The awakening of East Africa began in Congo. There is a very strong connection between Congo and the region,” he noted, adding that President Tshisekedi’s openness to religious revival has inspired hope.
Beyond matters of faith, Dr. Kayanja outlined the progress of his agricultural projects in northern Uganda and Karamoja, where large-scale irrigation, livestock support, and food security initiatives have been implemented to tackle malnutrition and poverty.
He highlighted the potential of replicating such models in eastern Congo, emphasizing agriculture not only as an economic tool but as a powerful instrument for peacebuilding.
“I have been blessed with several international recognitions for our work in agriculture. Agriculture is not just an economic tool—it is a peacebuilding tool, a way of restoring dignity and hope,” he said.
The meeting underscored a growing intersection between religion, diplomacy, and sustainable development, as leaders from Uganda and the DRC seek to harness faith-based cooperation to foster regional reconciliation and prosperity.
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