Supporting the Development and Progress of the Ugandan Youth

Vision –

To provide access and opportunity in a safe environment to expand the knowledge of youth and young adults’ creative learning and life skills.

Our Story

The Birth of the Idea Hands Of Christ Uganda Mission:

Fr. Boniface met David Rak-Kinonen at the 2017 BSA National Jamboree in West Virginia. Fr. Boniface shared the desire to establish a Diocesan Youth Training and Formation Center in his home diocese of Kasana-Luweero in Uganda. David would later invite Fr. Boniface to visit with him in Phoenix, Arizona in June 2019. While sharing, David believed that although he couldn’t use his mouth to preach the gospel to the ends of the earth, he would do it with simple actions — the works of his hands, which are but Christ’s hands. This way enables the creation of opportunities and en-kindles a fire of change among young people in Uganda, Africa, hence, the name Hands Of Christ.

Fr. Boniface continued with the idea of Hands Of Christ, with a reflection drawn from the Letter of St. James 2:14ff and John 5:2-9. These two texts present striking scenes: the former calls to put faith into action as David thought, and the latter, the energy and courage to stand up on one’s feet amidst challenges. James exclaims, “If a brother or sister is naked and destitute of daily food, and one of you says to them, ‘Depart in peace, be warmed and filled,’ but you do not give them the things which are needed for the body, what does it profit?” Thus, also faith, by itself, if it does not have works, is dead.

The text of John 5:2-9 is the pool of Bethzatha, with its five porticoes in which lay many invalids — blind, lame, and paralyzed. One man was there and had been ill for 38 years, waiting at the pool for help and healing. Then, Jesus walks into his life with loving SITULA — God’s Uplifting Hands and love. With this encounter, everything changes as soon as Jesus says to him: “Stand up, take your mat, and walk!” At once, the man was healed. In a moment of love, God lifts him up, wiping away decades of societal failure. He received outstandingly effective and deep healing that only God’s love delivers; no looking back!

Hands Of Christ Uganda Mission (HOCUM) is, therefore, a response to having faith Alive with a loving, Uplifting Hand like that of Jesus. It is Faith by Works, which doesn’t look at the provision of daily food but the skilling of people so that they can fend for themselves. HOCUM will work to help young people find the keys to unlock their talents, Create Access and Opportunities, and Ignite Change for their future.

Team Information

Founders

Description

Smiling man wearing suit and white collar

Co-Founder
Father Boniface Senteza

Born in Nakasongola Uganda Father Boniface Senteza was ordained a priest for the Diocese of Kasana-Luweero in August 2015. He has served in various capacities as the Diocesan Youth Ministry Director, Scouts Chaplain, Chaplain of Bukalasa Agricultural College, and Ponens/Relator in the Diocesan Tribunal until mid 2025 when he was assigned to be Director of the Project Coordination office and Mission Advancement. Father Boniface is Co-founder of Hands Of Christ Uganda Mission.

Supporting the Development and Progress of the Ugandan Youth

Vision –

To provide access and opportunity in a safe environment to expand the knowledge of youth and young adults’ creative learning and life skills.

Our Story

The Birth of the Idea Hands Of Christ Uganda Mission:

Fr. Boniface met David Rak-Kinonen at the 2017 BSA National Jamboree in West Virginia. Fr. Boniface shared the desire to establish a Diocesan Youth Training and Formation Center in his home diocese of Kasana-Luweero in Uganda. Dave would later invite Fr. Boniface to visit with him in Phoenix-Arizona in June 2019. While sharing, David believed that although he couldn’t use his mouth to preach the gospel to the ends of the earth, he would do it with simple actions — the works of his hands, which are but Christ’s hands. This way enables the creation of opportunities and enkindles a fire of change among young people in Uganda, Africa, hence, the name Hands of Christ.

Fr. Boniface continued with the idea of Hands of Christ, with a reflection drawn from the Letter of St. James 2:14ff and John 5:2-9. These two texts present striking scenes: the former calls to put faith into action as Dave thought, and the latter, the energy and courage to stand up on one’s feet amidst challenges. James exclaims, “If a brother or sister is naked and destitute of daily food, and one of you says to them, ‘Depart in peace, be warmed and filled,’ but you do not give them the things which are needed for the body, what does it profit?” Thus, also faith, by itself, if it does not have works, is dead.

Fr. Boniface is the co-founder of Hands Of Christ Uganda Mission, which is meant to Uplift and create access and opportunities to the lives of so many young Ugandans and prepare them for an active role in society. Fr. Boniface Senteza, as a young lad, sold pancakes, made bricks, cut firewood, and burnt charcoal to raise school funding. He was uplifted by a kind person who sponsored his secondary and seminary education. He received his Bachelor’s Degree in Philosophy and Theology, and in 2015, he became the first-ever Catholic priest to be ordained from his area. He regularly encounters boys and girls during his pastoral work who tell similar and oftentimes worse stories of earlier life challenges. Filled with memories, Fr. Boniface felt compelled and obliged to work towards the founding of Hands Of Christ Uganda Mission, the Uplifting of communities through education, training, and development of Uplifted (SITULA) Disciples with the Hands Of Christ through the establishment of St. Kizito Youth Center (SKY-C).

Smiling businessman wearing glasses, suit, and tie

President / Co-Founder
David Rak-Kinonen

Faith, Family, Knights of Columbus, Knights of Peter Claver, Scouting, Youth, Philanthropy are my passion

My passion has always included caring/supporting youth and the struggles of birth / childhood, which I have supported through many 501C3 charities. This passion was developed due to the struggles I had growing up in a large family and our need to work together to put food on the table. I have been truly blessed that my faith provided me with many incredible mentors that helped shape my life.

In 2017 while at the Boy Scout National Jamboree I met a priest Father Boniface Senteza who as the Youth Director for the Kasana-Luweero Dioceses of Uganda was chaperoning the Uganda Scout troop to the Summit Bechtel Reserve Boy Scout camp in Glen Jean, West Virginia. I believe it was God’s plan for the two of us to meet, there were over 50,000 Scouts attending that year. We spent many hours together over the two + weeks discussing our faith, The wonderful charity work that the Knights of Columbus are involved with around the world, and our love for the youth.

Over the next several years we discussed plans to get the Saint Kizito Youth Center (SKY-C) moving forward. Our first building is the Saint John Paul II Multipurpose Hall which will enable the youth a place for access and opportunity to gather and learn more about faith, learn life skills and share knowledge for the orphaned and impoverished youth. The children of Africa continue to deal with the over 3,000,000 orphans whose parents have died from AIDS and other causes. While we are in the process of building structures for youth to gather, we are also building HOPE FOR THE FUTURE of the youth in Uganda.

Isaiah 6:8 – Here am I; Send me.. is a very impactful scripture that touched me during the time we were creating the charity. In 2022 I was blessed to visit Uganda which I was able to meet so many beautiful people and exposed to the Uganda love and positive attitude, A wave and smile is shared by everyone. I will be forever grateful of the profoundly positive impact this incredible trip made and Pray that I will be blessed with many more trips to Uganda.