Bishop Christopher Senyonja - Remembering a Giant of Courage
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By Melanie Nathan, July 20, 2026
Bishop Christopher Senyonjo, who has died at the age of 94, was a remarkable Ugandan clergyman who chose conscience over comfort. At a time when evangelical hatred was helping propel Uganda’s first “Kill the Gays” bill, he stood almost alone among senior Christian leaders, publicly declaring that LGBTQ people deserved dignity, compassion, and God’s love—not persecution. For that unwavering faith, he paid a heavy personal price, yet he never retreated.
I had the profound honor walking beside Bishop Christopher in San Francisco in 2012 when he was recognized as an International Grand Marshal by San Francisco Pride. (PIC)
I was able to interview him on camera several times – his willingness to stand up publicly – his undying faith – his love – I am blessed as were many to have been a witness touched by his love and extraordinary moral courage. (See below)
A man who stood up to hatred, intolerance, and fear armed only with his faith and his conviction that human rights belong to everyone.
His legacy reminds that true Christianity is measured not by whom we exclude, but by whom we embrace.
May his memory be a blessing, and may his courage continue to inspire us to stand up for those who need allies the most.
I am sharing this interview once again. His wisdom, courage, humility, and boundless love shine through every word.
With profound sadness, Bishop Senyonjo warned that Uganda’s proposed “Kill the Gays” Bill would one day become law. Tragically, his prediction came true—first with the Anti-Homosexuality Act of 2013, (voided for lack of a Parliamentary quorum) and again with the 2023 Act signed into law by President Museveni.
He understood, long before many others did, that such laws would unleash violence, destroy lives, force countless LGBTQ Ugandans into hiding, exile, and dangerous journeys in search of asylum.
Perhaps most powerful is his reflection on conversations with Archbishop Desmond Tutu, whose unwavering belief in human dignity reinforced his own resolve. And with remarkable moral clarity, Bishop Senyonjo issued a plea that remains just as urgent today: that the United States must stop exporting hatred to Uganda and across Africa. He recognized the devastating role that American evangelical fundamentalists played in fueling the ideology behind Uganda’s Anti-Homosexuality Act, and he challenged Christians everywhere to reject fear and choose love instead.
His voice was prophetic. His compassion was extraordinary. His legacy lives on in every life he helped save and every conscience he awakened. May his memory continue to inspire us to confront hatred with courage and humanity.
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