Dr. Maka Assumes Acting ECD Presidency Following Pr. Ruguri’s Retirement

The leadership transition at the Seventh-day Adventist Church’s East-Central Africa Division (ECD) has brought its succession rules into focus, following the announcement of Pastor Blasious Ruguri’s retirement and messages concerning Pastor Dr Moses Ndimukika Maka’s role in the interim administration.

The ECD, a regional administrative body of the worldwide Seventh-day Adventist Church, serves 12 countries, including Uganda, Kenya, Tanzania, Rwanda, Burundi, Ethiopia, Eritrea, Djibouti, Somalia, South Sudan, Sudan and the Democratic Republic of Congo. Its leadership oversees the church’s spiritual and administrative work across the region. The division published an official communication concerning Ruguri’s retirement on October 24, 2026.

The transition has prompted renewed attention to the church’s Working Policy, which outlines how a vacancy in the office of division president should be handled between General Conference Sessions.

In a message addressed to an Adventist journalist, Kugonza Isaac of the Uganda Union Mission said Section C 20 05 of the ECD Working Policy provides for the division secretary to serve as acting president until a successor is elected and assumes office.

“The policy further provides that the full ECD Executive Committee, under the chairmanship of the General Conference President or his designee, recommends a successor, while the General Conference Executive Committee is responsible for electing the new Division President,” Kugonza wrote.

The message cautioned against treating an interim leadership role as confirmation of a substantive appointment. It urged church members and journalists to rely on the church’s established governance procedures and official communications rather than speculation.

The succession provisions are also reflected in the publicly accessible 2015 edition of the ECD Working Policy. Section C 20 05 states that the division secretary serves as acting president until the new president is elected and assumes responsibilities. It further provides for the full division executive committee, chaired by the General Conference president or a designated representative, to recommend a successor for consideration by the General Conference Executive Committee.

The policy explains that the division and the global church both have a role in filling the vacancy because division presidents also serve as vice presidents of the General Conference. The General Conference Executive Committee normally elects a successor at its next scheduled Annual Council or Spring Meeting, although the policy allows an election at a specially convened committee meeting.

Meanwhile, Minister for the Presidency Milly Babirye Babalanda has issued a congratulatory message to Pastor Dr Maka, describing the reported appointment as an opportunity to provide spiritual leadership, strengthen unity among believers and advance the church’s mission.

In her message, Babalanda encouraged Maka to serve with humility, wisdom, integrity and dedication, while promoting evangelism and the spiritual growth of congregations. She also invoked Proverbs 16:3 from the King James Version: “Commit thy works unto the LORD, and thy thoughts shall be established.”

Babalanda’s message extended congratulations to Maka, the Busoga Seventh-day Adventist community and Uganda. However, the congratulatory statement, as supplied, does not establish whether the church has completed the formal election process required for the substantive presidency.

Dr. Maka was elected ECD executive secretary during the 62nd General Conference Session on July 8, 2025, according to a report published by the Kampala Metropolitan Zone of Seventh-day Adventists. He had previously served in leadership positions within the Uganda Union Mission.

The distinction between acting and substantive leadership is therefore central to understanding the transition. While an acting president can provide continuity in the division’s administration, the policy specifies a separate process for electing a permanent office holder.

The next step is confirmation from the relevant church authorities on the current interim arrangement and the formal status of the presidential succession.

Until an official election decision is available, reports should distinguish between the retirement announcement, the interim leadership arrangements and any subsequent election of a substantive president.

Send Us Your Story

If you would like your article or opinion published on The New Light Paper, one of Uganda’s trusted news platforms, send your submission to thenewlightpaper@gmail.com.