"Therefore encourage one another and build one another up, just as you are doing."
-1 Thessalonians 5:11

 Mbale is a poor area in Uganda. The poverty there effects health, education and how people are able to raise their families. The local Ugandan churches are doing amazing work reaching out to the most vulnerable in their communities, and we wanted to find a way to not only support them in their work, also to share genuine connections between the Christians in the Pontypridd Ministry Area and Mbale.

Rev Charlotte with Rev Charles, Rev Alice
and Lay Reader Jimmy August 2025

Through the charity PONT, St Catherine's Church in Pontypridd is twinned with the Bishop Wasikye Memorial Church, Namamtala Parish.

Namatala

Namatala is one of the larger slums in Uganda. 44,100 people live in conditions that we can not even imagine - extreme poverty, with inadequate social amenities, ​poor housing, lack of solid waste management, lack of essential infrastructure, and inadequate access to clean water, safe sanitation facilities and security of tenure.  The church is undertaking incredible work, helping the local population to lift themselves out of poverty and improving the quality of life for those around them.

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​This long distance friendship is based on prayer and the desire to grow God's Kingdom where we are. The St Catherine's clergy and congregation are in regular contact with the parish, and friendships have been formed over bowls of goat stew.  We have been able to provide practical and financial support to the church as it reaches out into Namatala to provide free education to children, and vocational training to adults. Vicars Michael & Charlotte are busy planning an itinerary for a group from the Pontypridd Ministry Area to visit our link church in Namatala. we plan to have lots of fun with the local children as they enjoy their summer holiday!

Namatala Parish Church School

Namatala Parish Church

Joyful worship