Abayudaya, The Jews of Uganda
The Abayudaya (the name means "people of Judah" in Luganda). They keep kosher, celebrate Jewish holidays, and welcome people from around the world to come and pray. Today, there are approximately 2600 Jews spread out across 14 villages with 16 synagogues.
The Abayudaya (the name means "people of Judah" in Luganda). They keep kosher, celebrate Jewish holidays, and welcome people from around the world to come and pray. Today, there are approximately 2600 Jews spread out across 14 villages with 16 synagogues.
About The Abayudaya
In 1919, people began converting to Judaism after the founder, the African chieftain and military leader Semei Kakungulu, read the Torah and decided to adopt Jewish customs and laws. Kakungulu circumcised his sons and himself, and his community in Eastern Uganda began to practice Judaism. By the 1960s, the Abayudaya had around 1,500 followers, but they suffered intense religious persecution under dictator Idi Amin's regime throughout the 1970s. Synagogues were destroyed, the government prohibited Jewish observance, and many Abayudaya felt forced to convert to Christianity or Islam. By the time Idi Amin left power, there were about 300 Jews left in the community. But the younger generation rebuilt the community and it continues to grow.
In 1919, people began converting to Judaism after the founder, the African chieftain and military leader Semei Kakungulu, read the Torah and decided to adopt Jewish customs and laws. Kakungulu circumcised his sons and himself, and his community in Eastern Uganda began to practice Judaism. By the 1960s, the Abayudaya had around 1,500 followers, but they suffered intense religious persecution under dictator Idi Amin's regime throughout the 1970s. Synagogues were destroyed, the government prohibited Jewish observance, and many Abayudaya felt forced to convert to Christianity or Islam. By the time Idi Amin left power, there were about 300 Jews left in the community. But the younger generation rebuilt the community and it continues to grow.
Pictured Above: Namutumba Jewish Synagogue
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Give the gift of a goat as your Mitzvah project and help a child pay for their education.
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Mitzvah Projects The Abayudaya community is a perfect selection for Mitzvah projects. While the community is full in heart, spirit, and faith, the Abayudaya lack resources. In Uganda, student absenteeism is high. One in three children in primary school does not attend school every day. Many families are unable to pay for their children’s school fees, uniforms, and books. Facing malnutrition, school lunch is often students’ first and only meal of the day. |
We work with four Jewish schools to support Mitzvah projects.
Tikkun Olam Primary School
Tikkun Olam was founded by Yoash Mayende in 2015 to foster opportunities for Jewish children to learn and participate in their Jewish education. Serving over 350 students, Tikkun Olam has classrooms ranging from K-7th grade. Global Village Connect has implemented a School Lunch Farm Project and built a kitchen so students can eat breakfast and lunch. Unless we provide this food, students go without a meal until dinner, which makes concentrating on studies nearly impossible. This 5 acre farm feeds kids lunch everyday.
Hadassah Primary School
Hadassah Primary School is another Abayudaya school for Jewish, Christian and Muslim children in Mbale, Uganda, founded in 2001. We have a new 6 acre farm and an urban garden on the school premises to teach best farming practices while making sure students are getting some much needed nutrition. We also implemented our Give a Goat project, providing 23 vulnerable students and their families with goats to help pay school fees.
Ben David Primary School
Located in northern Uganda, this is a Jewish school with grades K-4. We have our Give a Goat project here which is generously funded by a Minnesota family who donates a goat for every B’nai Mitzvah at their synagogue. This is a great way to introduce US teens to their Jewish peers in Uganda while practicing Tikkun Olam.
Jonathan Netanyahu Memorial School
Located in Putti village in eastern Uganda, students at Jonathan Netanyahu are also recipients of our Give a Goat project. This Jewish school teaches students from K-7.
Tikkun Olam was founded by Yoash Mayende in 2015 to foster opportunities for Jewish children to learn and participate in their Jewish education. Serving over 350 students, Tikkun Olam has classrooms ranging from K-7th grade. Global Village Connect has implemented a School Lunch Farm Project and built a kitchen so students can eat breakfast and lunch. Unless we provide this food, students go without a meal until dinner, which makes concentrating on studies nearly impossible. This 5 acre farm feeds kids lunch everyday.
Hadassah Primary School
Hadassah Primary School is another Abayudaya school for Jewish, Christian and Muslim children in Mbale, Uganda, founded in 2001. We have a new 6 acre farm and an urban garden on the school premises to teach best farming practices while making sure students are getting some much needed nutrition. We also implemented our Give a Goat project, providing 23 vulnerable students and their families with goats to help pay school fees.
Ben David Primary School
Located in northern Uganda, this is a Jewish school with grades K-4. We have our Give a Goat project here which is generously funded by a Minnesota family who donates a goat for every B’nai Mitzvah at their synagogue. This is a great way to introduce US teens to their Jewish peers in Uganda while practicing Tikkun Olam.
Jonathan Netanyahu Memorial School
Located in Putti village in eastern Uganda, students at Jonathan Netanyahu are also recipients of our Give a Goat project. This Jewish school teaches students from K-7.
Pictured Above: Tikkun Olam Students
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Maximize Your Mitzvah and Make a Difference
Provide a student lunch Many families do not have enough money to feed their kids. We’re building school farms so kids can eat lunch, oftentimes their first meal of the day. Sustainable farming provides schools with their food! It costs $50 per student for lunch for 1 year. Provide School Lunch Provide a student scholarship
Donate to provide tuition and school supplies to students in need. School is expensive for many families, and they need your help. Education is the key to breaking out of poverty. It costs $375 per student for 1 year. Donate a Scholarship Give a kid a goat
The Give a Goat Program provides kids with the opportunity to pay for their own school and food. Acting as a business, 1 goat can provide money for school fees, uniforms, and books through the sale of its milk and offspring- All kosher! It costs $200 for 1 goat and a goat shelter. Give a Goat
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“Global Village Connect made my Bar Mitzvah project special and let me make a real difference in the world!” 
Donate Now
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In Luganda, Abayudaya means "People of Judah."
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Connect with Global Village Connect to discuss any mitzvah project you would like to support. [email protected] |
Pictured Above: Students of Tikkun Olam Primary School