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The Batwa are part of a larger group of
pygmies that live in a mountainous
region along the borders Uganda, the
Congo and Rwanda.
Approximately 3,000 of these pygmies
lived in the rainforest of Bwindi in
southwestern Uganda.
This region is also home to the mountain
gorillas.
* In 1991, the government of Uganda
evicted the Batwa tribe out of the Bwindi
Impenetrable Rainforest – their home for
thousands of years in order to protect the
mountain gorilla and encourage tourism
* The Batwa had lived peacefully with the
mountain gorilla and were not
responsible for their destruction.
* The Batwa were dying outside of their
habitat: they were a displaced people
* The Batwa had no land and did not know
how to grow their own food
* The Batwa would not accept help from
the neighboring tribes
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Archbishop Nkoyoyo came to Dallas in
1995 and asked me to help resettle this
tribe.
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After much prayer, I collaborated with
the Bishop of Kinkiizi Diocese and we
came up with a three-year plan.
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we raised $50,000 to launch the project.
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Over 300 acres were purchased to give
the Batwa a place to settle
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A multi-purpose building was
constructed with a classroom, a small
clinic, and a small chapel
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Farming tools were purchased and
skilled members of the Bakiga tribe were
hired to teach simple agricultural skills
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A school was built to provide primary
education for the children
New houses were built to provide shelter
Immunizations against respiratory
diseases were administered
Clean water wells were built
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Three churches in the Diocese of Dallas
were recruited to provide:
• School Supplies (St. James, Dallas)
• Medical Supplies (St. Michael & All Angels)
• Manual sewing machines, fabrics and notions
(Holy Trinity, Garland)
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The 3-year plan was implemented
successfully
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However, the first settlement was not
sufficient – many more (3,000) Batwa
were scattered and also needed
resettling (there are now 11 settlements)
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The health needs were greater than we
could resolve
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Local pastors ministered to the Batwa
When the Batwa heard stories about Jesus,
they said “Oh, that is who that was. He
visited us in the forest”!
Many Batwa committed their lives to Christ
They thought that God had abandoned
them when they were evicted; now they
understood how much God loved them!
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The health needs were an ongoing
problem. The Batwa were contracting
illnesses they had never been exposed to
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The Episcopal Medical Mission
Foundation recruited a doctor to go and
do a health assessment
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Dr. Scott and Carol Kellermann answered
the call and made a visit in 2000