November 3, 2026
In a report published by the General Conference (GC) of the Seventh-day Adventist Church, the GC Executive Committee has approved Dr. Moses Maka Ndimukika as the next President of the East-Central Africa Division (ECD), with Dr. Tom Ogal elected to serve as Executive Secretary.
The decision was made during a virtual meeting of the GC Executive Committee on November 2, following the selection of the two leaders by the ECD Executive Committee on October 29. Maka and Ogal will assume their respective responsibilities with immediate effect.
The current ECD President Pastor Blasious Ruguri will remain in an advisory capacity to support the leadership transition until his retirement on December 31, 2026. He has served as ECD President for 16 years.
Maka to Lead the Division
Dr. Maka currently serves as ECD Executive Secretary, a position to which he was elected during the 62nd General Conference Session in July 2025. His election as President follows more than three decades of service to the Seventh-day Adventist Church.
During the selection process, the ECD Executive Committee identified integrity, spiritual leadership, passion for mission and the ability to bring people together among the qualities expected of the Division’s next President. The committee also emphasized developing future leaders, understanding the Division’s diverse cultures and strengthening the Church’s capacity to support its mission.
General Conference President Erton C. Köhler underscored the importance of Christ-centred leadership and maintaining focus on the Church’s mission.
“Leadership in the church is first and foremost a calling to serve God and His people. As Pastor Maka takes on this new responsibility, my prayer is that he will continue to lead with humility, courage and a deep commitment to mission,” said Köhler. “The East-Central Africa Division has tremendous opportunities to reach people for Christ, and we must remain united, grounded in the Bible and focused on the mission God has entrusted to us.”
Born in Uganda in 1969, Maka earned a Bachelor of Theology degree 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.
An ordained minister, he began serving the Seventh-day Adventist Church in 1995. His ministry experience spans pastoral work, district leadership, academia and church administration. Before his election as ECD executive secretary, he served as President of the Uganda Union Mission, where he oversaw the establishment of five additional fields. His ministry has also involved evangelism, discipleship and church planting.
Speaking about his election and the responsibility ahead, Maka expressed humility and acknowledged his dependence on God’s guidance.
“I am deeply humbled, and honestly, I receive this recommendation with a mixture of gratitude, reverence, and fear. I am fully aware of the enormous responsibility that comes with such a sacred trust. This is not a position I take lightly, nor one I believe anyone can carry by human strength alone. I feel the weight of the calling, and I know that I desperately need God’s wisdom, grace, and guidance.
“To the Committee and the Church, thank you for believing in me. If this is where God is leading, I surrender myself to His will, trusting Him to give me the strength to serve His Church faithfully. Please keep me in your prayers.”
Maka also paid tribute to Ruguri, recognizing the foundation laid during his years of leadership.
“I particularly thank Elder Ruguri, whose shoes I can never fit nor walk in. The foundation he has laid and the sacrifice he has borne for the Church in East-Central Africa Division to be what it is today will remain indelible. I salute him,” Maka said.
Outlining his commitment to the responsibility, he pledged to lead through service, pursue unity and mission, and uphold transparency, integrity and accountability.
“To lead not as a master, but as a servant; not to be served, but to serve. To seek unity and not division, mission and not position, and Christ and not self,” he said.
Maka requested the prayers and support of the Division’s leadership and church members, expressing his desire to remain wholly committed to God’s guidance. He is married to Janet Maka, and they have four children.
Ogal Elected Executive Secretary
Dr. Tom Ogal will succeed Maka as ECD Executive Secretary, bringing more than two decades of pastoral and administrative experience to the position.
Ogal has served as ECD undersecretary since August 2022, having previously spent seven years as an Associate Secretary of the Division. His earlier responsibilities included serving as secretary of the Kenya Lake Conference and Kenya Lake Field, as well as working as a church pastor and editor at the Africa Herald Publishing House.
He holds a Bachelor of Arts in Theology, a Master of Arts in Pastoral Theology and a Doctor of Ministry degree. He was ordained to the gospel ministry in 2006.
General Conference Secretary Rick McEdward recognized Ogal’s experience and his commitment to the people and mission of the Church.
“Pastor Ogal has a heart for God and a passion for His mission. He brings years of experience and a deep understanding of the church across East-Central Africa, but just as importantly, he understands that our work is about people,” said McEdward. “I look forward to working with him as we help the church to reach communities that have had little exposure to the gospel, reaching more people for Jesus.”
Speaking about his election, Ogal described the appointment as an honour that also calls for deep reflection, particularly in view of the responsibility entrusted to him.
“I am struggling to find words adequate to express what is in my heart. To be considered for this responsibility is both an honour and a moment of deep reflection. The office of Executive Secretary touches the very life of the Church, its people, its decisions, and its mission. I am mindful that every decision carries consequences and that leadership demands wisdom beyond human understanding.
“I never imagined that I would stand at such a moment. I can only look to God, remembering that those whom He calls, He also sustains. To the Committee, I am sincerely grateful for this confidence. Whatever lies ahead, my greatest desire is to remain faithful to God, loyal to His Church, and worthy of the trust placed in me. May the Lord go before us.”
Ruguri to Retire After 16 Years
The leadership transition follows Ruguri’s decision to retire on December 31, 2026, after 16 years as president of the East-Central Africa Division.
In a statement announcing his retirement, the Division expressed appreciation for his years of dedicated service and leadership in advancing the Church’s mission across the region.
“The East-Central Africa Division expresses its sincere appreciation to Pastor Ruguri for his years of dedicated service to the Church and his leadership in advancing its mission across the Division,” the statement said.