New Leadership Elected to Serve East-Central Africa Division

The General Conference (GC) Executive Committee of the Seventh-day Adventist Church voted on November 2, 2026, to approve Moses Ndimukika Maka as the next president of the East-Central Africa Division (ECD) and Tom Ogal as executive secretary.

The vote took place during a virtual meeting of the GC Executive Committee, following the selection of both leaders by the ECD Executive Committee on October 29.

Maka and Ogal, who were serving as ECD secretary and undersecretary respectively, will assume their new responsibilities effective immediately, with past ECD president Blasious Ruguri staying on in an advisory capacity until his retirement on December 31, 2026.

Moses Maka Elected President

Maka has served as ECD executive secretary since his election during the sixty-second General Conference Session in July 2025. His appointment as president follows more than three decades of service to the Seventh-day Adventist Church.

During the selection process the ECD Executive Committee identified several priorities for its next president, including integrity, spiritual leadership, a passion for mission, and the ability to bring people together. The committee also emphasized the importance of developing future leaders, understanding the division’s diverse cultures, and strengthening the church’s ability to support its mission.

General Conference president Erton C. Köhler emphasized the importance of Christ-centered leadership and remaining focused on the mission of the church.

“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,” Köhler said. “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 his Bachelor of Theology at Spicer Adventist University in India before completing his Master of Theology at Newbold College in the United Kingdom and his Ph.D. in Old Testament Theology and Exegesis at Sahmyook University in South Korea.

An ordained minister, Maka began working for the Seventh-day Adventist Church in 1995. Throughout his ministry he has served as a pastor, district director, and academic and church administrator.

Before his election as ECD secretary, Maka served as president of the Uganda Union Mission. During his leadership he established five additional fields within the union. His ministry has also included evangelism, discipleship, and church planting.

“I accept this challenging responsibility with a deep sense of reservation, conscious of how inadequate and ill-prepared I am for such a sacred trust. 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.

“To my fellow leaders and to the entire church family, I request your fervent prayers and your support. I commit to lead, not as a master, but as a servant; to seek unity and not division, mission and not position, and Christ and not self.”

Tom Ogal Elected Executive Secretary

Ogal brings more than two decades of pastoral and administrative experience to his new role as ECD secretary.

He has served as ECD undersecretary since August 2022, following seven years as associate secretary of the division. His previous responsibilities include serving as secretary of the Kenya Lake Conference and Kenya Lake Field, as well as a church pastor and editor at the Africa Herald Publishing House.

Ogal 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.

“I am struggling to find words adequate to express what is in my heart. To be considered for this responsibility is both an honor 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,” Ogal said. 

“I am mindful that every decision carries consequences and that leadership demands wisdom beyond human understanding. 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.”

GC secretary Rick McEdward recognized the secretary’s role in supporting church leadership and strengthening the church’s mission.

“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 important, he understands that our work is about people,” McEdward said. “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.”

Ruguri to Retire After 16 Years

The leadership transition follows the decision of current ECD president Blasious Ruguri to retire on December 31, after serving as division president for 16 years.

In a statement announcing his retirement, the ECD recognized Ruguri’s contributions to the church and his years of leadership.

“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.