From a young theology student at Bugema University to the presidency of the Seventh-day Adventist Church’s largest world division, Pastor Blasious M. Ruguri’s 44 years of ministry have been marked by growth, missionary expansion and institutional development.
After 16 years leading the East-Central Africa Division (ECD), Pastor Blasious M. Ruguri is preparing to retire on December 31, 2026, bringing to a close a significant chapter in the history of the Seventh-day Adventist Church in the region.
Ruguri announced his retirement on October 22, 2026, during morning worship at the Division headquarters near Nairobi, Kenya. His announcement came just over a year after his re-election at the 2025 General Conference Session in St. Louis.
Under his leadership, the ECD experienced remarkable growth, increasing its membership from approximately 2.5 million in 2010 to nearly six million in 2026, making it the largest world division of the Seventh-day Adventist Church.
A Journey of Service and Leadership
Born and raised in Kenya, Ruguri studied theology at Bugema University in Uganda before entering pastoral ministry in 1982. He was ordained in 1986 and went on to serve in various leadership positions, including Youth Director, Stewardship Director and Division Executive Secretary.
In 2010, he was elected Division president during the General Conference Session in Atlanta, succeeding Dr. Geoffrey G. Mbwana. He was subsequently re-elected in 2015, 2022 and 2025.
One of the defining priorities of Ruguri’s presidency was Total Member Involvement (TMI), an initiative encouraging every church member to participate in sharing the gospel. Through initiatives such as ECD Homecoming and Hope for Africa, the Division strengthened its evangelistic outreach across the region.
His leadership also saw significant investment in Adventist education and healthcare. He served as chancellor of the Adventist University of Africa from 2010 to 2023 and championed the development of the Adventist School of Medicine of East-Central Africa in Kigali, Rwanda.
Another notable achievement was the Division’s progress towards financial self-reliance. By 2023, the ECD had become a net contributor to the worldwide Church’s finances, marking a significant milestone in its institutional development.
Challenges Along the Way
Despite the remarkable achievements, Ruguri’s tenure also experienced governance and leadership challenges, particularly in Kenya. The 2026 Opticoin cryptocurrency crisis and related institutional disputes further highlighted the need for stronger accountability, transparency and adherence to Church policies.
These challenges remain important lessons for the Division as it moves into a new leadership era.
Passing the Mantle
On November 2, 2026, the General Conference Executive Committee approved Dr. Moses Ndimukika Maka as the new ECD president, with Dr. Tom Ogal elected executive secretary.
Dr. Maka, who previously served as president of the Uganda Union Mission and later as ECD executive secretary, paid tribute to his predecessor, acknowledging the foundation Ruguri had laid for the Church.
“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,” he said.
A Legacy Beyond the Presidency
As Pastor Ruguri prepares to conclude his 44 years of ministry, his contribution to the Seventh-day Adventist Church will be remembered through the growth of the Division, the mobilisation of members for mission, the development of educational and medical institutions, and the progress towards financial self-reliance.
His sixteen years at the helm leave behind a Church that is larger, more established and increasingly influential in the global Adventist mission.
While leadership transitions mark the end of one chapter, the mission continues under new leadership, building on the foundation laid over the years.
Sixteen years of leadership. Forty-four years of ministry. A legacy that will continue to shape the East-Central Africa Division.