The Karamojong Tribe’s First Encounter with Christ

In the heart of Northern Uganda, a transformative journey is unfolding among the Karamojong people, who are encountering the Gospel for the first time through Prison Fellowship International's programs.

Deep in Northern Uganda, the Karamojong people live as a nomadic pastoral tribe, known for their warrior-like nature and frequent cattle raids on neighboring villages. Their way of life remains deeply traditional, resisting outside influence, and most have never heard the name of Jesus Christ.

Ashella, Prison Fellowship International’s Regional Director for Africa, first learned about the Karamojong people in Jinja Main Prison, a severely overcrowded maximum security facility housing around 2,000 inmates—including 250 Karamojong men. Only one among them could speak or understand English. Out of curiosity, he joined The Prisoner’s Journey and, for the first time, heard about Christ. By the end of the course, his heart had been transformed, and he gave his life to Jesus.

His newfound faith ignited curiosity among his fellow tribesmen, but language was a barrier. Determined to share what he had learned, he trained as a program facilitator and began leading small groups. By the time Ashella visited the prison, he was facilitating The Prisoner’s Journey to 50 Karamojong men, with many more on a waiting list.

As Ashella sat among them, she asked if any of them had ever heard of Christ before. The answer was unanimous—no one. Not in their families and not in their communities. And none had ever been to church. They were the very first in their lineage to encounter the Gospel. With conviction, they declared that their days of violence were over. Their only desire now is to return home and share Christ with their families.

Thanks to The Prisoner’s Journey, we are witnessing the birth of first-generation Christians among the Karamojong—men who may one day be the very missionaries to bring the Gospel back to their people and transform entire communities.

Prison Fellowship Uganda is in their first year of running The Listener’s Way and are still working to get approval to begin courses within prisons. Ashella is now working to connect the ministry with Faith Comes By Hearing, the provider of The Listener’s Way program devices, to load the Bible in the language needed in further engage the Karamojong people, making the entire Bible accessible to them in their native language.

As the Karamojong men embrace their newfound faith, the impact of The Prisoner’s Journey continues to ripple through their lives and communities. With ongoing efforts to provide access to the Bible in their native language, the potential for a generation of Karamojong believers to share the Gospel and bring lasting change is becoming a powerful reality.

“For the word of God is alive and active. Sharper than any double-edged sword, it penetrates even to dividing soul and spirit, joints and marrow; it judges the thoughts and attitudes of the heart.”  Hebrews 4:12