Catholic bishops from nine East African countries concluded the 21st Plenary Assembly of the Association of Member Episcopal Conferences in Eastern Africa (AMECEA) on July 26 with a call to place young people at the center of the Church’s mission and to strengthen collaboration across the region.
The eight-day gathering, held in Nairobi, the capital of Kenya in East Africa, ended with a closing Mass at St. Mary’s Msongari Grounds after a week of prayer, discernment, and discussions on the Church’s pastoral priorities.
Held under the theme, “AMECEA’s Synodal Journey with Young People: Building Bridges of Communion, Hope, Justice and Good Governance,” the assembly emphasized that young people are not merely the future of the Church but active partners in its mission today.
Delegates included bishops, priests, religious, and lay faithful from AMECEA’s nine member countries—Kenya, Malawi, Tanzania, Uganda, Zambia, Ethiopia, Eritrea, South Sudan, and Sudan—along with representatives of Catholic institutions and Church organizations.
One of the assembly’s key decisions was the election of new leadership for the regional bishops’ association.
Archbishop Gervas John Nyaisonga of Mbeya, Tanzania, was elected AMECEA chairman, succeeding Bishop Charles Kasonde of Zambia, who led the organization for the past eight years.
Fr. Andrew Kaufa of Malawi was elected secretary general. He previously served as deputy secretary general and communications coordinator at the AMECEA Secretariat.
The assembly also appointed Fr. Castro Goliama of Tanzania as rector of Blessed Isidore Bakanja College and Fr. Elias Omondi-Opongo, SJ, as vice chancellor-designate of the Catholic University of Eastern Africa.
In his first address as chairman, Archbishop Nyaisonga thanked the bishops for their confidence and pledged to lead the regional body with humility, collaboration, and commitment.
He also paid tribute to Bishop Kasonde for his years of service and said the new leadership would build on the strong foundation established during his tenure.
Reflecting on the assembly’s theme, Archbishop Nyaisonga said young people would remain a pastoral priority for the Church in Eastern Africa.
He said the Church had heard the voices of young people calling for greater inclusion, accompaniment, and participation, and stressed that these aspirations must be matched by concrete action.
Presenting the assembly’s final message, Bishop Martin Mtumbuka of Malawi called for stronger cooperation among families, parishes, governments, and civil society to support young people.
The bishops urged Church communities to welcome young people as partners in mission while encouraging governments to expand access to education, create employment opportunities, uphold human dignity, and foster peaceful participation in society.
During the closing Mass, Archbishop Maurice Muhatia of Kisumu thanked the bishops for choosing Kenya to host the assembly. He also expressed gratitude to the Kenyan faithful for their hospitality and prayers, saying the gathering strengthened communion and solidarity among the local Churches of Eastern Africa.
Founded to promote collaboration among Catholic bishops’ conferences in Eastern Africa, AMECEA coordinates regional initiatives in evangelization, pastoral ministry, education, social communications, integral human development, and the promotion of justice and peace.
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21st Plenary Assembly
Association of Member Episcopal Conferences in Eastern Africa
AMECEA
Archbishop Gervas John Nyaisonga
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