The Bishop of South Ankole Diocese, Rt. Rev. Nathan Ahimbisibwe, celebrated his 60th birthday by launching three books that chronicle his life experiences, faith journey, leadership lessons, and vision for personal and community transformation.
The books—The Ladder of Testimonies, See Far, and The Power of I Am, were launched on Tuesday at All Saints Church, Nakasero, in Kampala during a ceremony presided over by the Archbishop of the Church of Uganda, the Most Rev. Dr. Stephen Samuel Kaziimba Mugalu.
Speaking at the launch, Bishop Ahimbisibwe described the publications as the product of more than a decade of reflection, faith, and personal testimony.
He revealed that the inspiration to write began in 2013 when a family friend, Christine, prophetically told him he would become an author.
“She said, ‘There is something I’m going to tell you. You are going to write books, and we are giving these books the title The Ladder of Testimonies’,” he recalled.
The bishop explained that the books draw heavily from his experiences in ministry, education, and agriculture.
The Ladder of Testimonies reflects on his journey as a farmer, teacher, and church leader. He said his passion for agriculture was nurtured at a young age and influenced by his father, who remains an active farmer at the age of 92.
The third book, The Power of I Am, was largely written between 2015 and 2017 through a disciplined process of documenting thoughts and inspirations as they came.
“I would put every statement that would come into my computer. Then at night I would remember something, switch on, and write. I kept adding and adding,” he said.
The second book, See Far, draws inspiration from his 21-year teaching career and a phrase that became his personal philosophy. He said the message encouraged students to look beyond their immediate circumstances and embrace a broader vision for the future.
According to Bishop Ahimbisibwe, the books are intended to inspire readers through lessons on perseverance, faith, leadership, vision, and God’s faithfulness. He noted that the three publications form a series, with The Ladder of Testimonies as Volume One, See Far as Volume Two, and The Power of I Am as Volume Three.
He also announced that two more books are already in the pipeline.
“There are two coming not far from today,” he said.
Archbishop Kaziimba congratulated Bishop Ahimbisibwe on the successful launch of the book series and praised his contribution to education and community transformation.
“As the Chairperson of the Board of the Directorate of Education of the Church of Uganda, he continues to make a remarkable contribution to improving education standards in our institutions,” the Archbishop said.
He also revealed that the bishop is working on another publication titled Know Your Brand.
The Archbishop commended Bishop Ahimbisibwe’s visionary leadership and commitment to promoting self-sustainability through agriculture.
“I have visited his diocese on several occasions and appreciated how he is using agriculture to transform the communities he serves. I am glad he has documented these strategies in his books,” he said.
The keynote address was delivered by Prof. John F. Mugisha, Vice-Chancellor of Bishop Stuart University, under the theme, “The Nexus Between Faith and Productivity: Lessons from a Farming Bishop.”
Prof. Mugisha challenged the traditional notion that spirituality and economic productivity should be viewed separately.
“I will propose that spirituality and productivity are partners, not antagonists,” he said.
He argued that Bishop Ahimbisibwe’s ministry demonstrates how faith can inspire practical action that transforms communities.
“Where some people have drawn a line between the sanctuary and the field, Bishop Nathan’s life and ministry in South Ankole make a strong case for erasing that line,” Mugisha noted.
He described the bishop’s model as “agri-evangelism,” combining faith, stewardship, and modern agricultural practices to promote dignity, congregational growth, and socio-economic transformation.
The books were reviewed by city lawyer Prof. Alex Bashasha, who described the simultaneous publication of three books as a remarkable achievement.
“I have never seen somebody writing three books at a go because even one book is difficult to write,” Bashasha said.
He particularly praised The Ladder of Testimonies, saying its title immediately captures the curiosity of readers.
The lawyer also revealed that a visit to Bishop Ahimbisibwe’s farm in Ntungamo inspired him to venture into coffee farming.
“I was challenged from that time. I also started planting coffee. Now I have about two acres of coffee,” he said.
Quoting from The Ladder of Testimonies, Bashasha highlighted one of the bishop’s central messages:
“Life is like a farm. Every day, you sow seeds of thought, action and faith. Some days bring rain, some days bring drought. Some seeds sprout quickly; others take years to bear fruit. But God, in His infinite wisdom, multiplies what is faithful.”
