Babalanda urges youth to turn smartphones into 'pulpits' for evangelism

What the report says

Presidency Minister Milly Babalanda has urged Ugandan young people to use smartphones and social media as tools for sharing the Christian gospel and encouraging responsible online conduct. She made the remarks at Iganga SDA Church during the launch of “One Voice27 Mission For All, Hope Starts Here,” a Seventh-day Adventist evangelism initiative aimed at internet users.

According to Nile Post, the event drew hundreds of believers, youth leaders, church elders and other community members. Babalanda said many young Ugandans spend much of their time online, making digital platforms an important place for outreach. She encouraged them to use their phones for evangelism rather than for harmful content, and criticized activities such as pornography, online exploitation, misinformation and excessive entertainment.

She argued that social media evangelism could help promote moral renewal by reaching people who may not attend church in person. Babalanda also said freedoms of worship and expression should be exercised responsibly, and called on religious groups, cultural leaders and parents to help protect youth from what she described as moral decline online.

The report frames the launch as part of a broader effort by the SDA Church to meet audiences where they already are digitally. More generally, digital evangelism has become a growing strategy among faith groups across Africa and elsewhere as internet access expands, though the specific outreach model described here is tied to this Uganda-based campaign.