Dar es Salaam. Worshippers of the Glory of Christ Tanzania Church – commonly known as Ufufuo na Uzima, led by Bishop Josephat Gwajima, were forced to hold Sunday services at home on June 8, 2025, following the government’s decision to deregister the church earlier this month. All in-person worship, including weddings, baptisms, and other religious ceremonies, has been suspended until further notice.
The church’s deregistration was formally announced on 2 June 2025 by the Registrar of Civil Societies, Mr Emmanuel Kihampa, who cited violations of the Societies Act (Cap. 337). He accused the church of using sermons to spread politically charged messages that could incite divisions between the government and the public.
The move came shortly after Bishop Gwajima held a press conference in which he spoke on recent reports of abductions and disappearances. During the briefing, as well as in his Sunday sermon on 1 June, he questioned how state authorities would respond if the victims included children of national leaders—remarks that triggered widespread debate, including in Parliament.
On Sunday, 8 June, The Citizen visited the church’s headquarters at Ubungo, Dar es Salaam, where the compound remained under tight security. Access to the premises was blocked, and a riot-control vehicle was stationed at the entrance. Police tape was still in place from the day the church was ordered shut, and the area, typically bustling with Gwajima’s followers, was uncharacteristically silent.
Several members said they had been instructed via WhatsApp groups to pray at home or at nearby prayer stations.
“After being barred from entering the church, we were told to wait for official guidance. On Friday, we were asked to conduct prayers from home,” said Mr Kelvin Mndemi, a church member and resident of Ubungo Kibo.
Another church official, who spoke on condition of anonymity, said small gatherings were taking place at local centres, but attendance was far lower than usual. “There’s something different about being inside the church. Worship feels incomplete without the presence of the head pastor,” he said.
On Saturday, 7 June, the church’s Secretary, Dr Eric Shoo, issued a statement on social media instructing all leaders and members to suspend all physical services.
“There will be no services in any of our Glory of Christ Tanzania churches on Sunday, 8 June 2025. Every member is to worship from their home,” he wrote.
He acknowledged that several events, including weddings, baptisms, Holy Communion, and child blessing ceremonies, had been scheduled for that Sunday. “All these have been postponed until further notice,” the statement read.
Dr Shoo directed all church leaders—from diocesan bishops and jurisdictional overseers to local priests and finance directors—to implement the suspension accordingly. He also clarified that the directive only applies to churches within Tanzania; international branches are to continue operations as usual.
He concluded by encouraging church members to remain strong, quoting from 1 Corinthians 15:58: “Therefore, my dear brothers and sisters, stand firm… your labour in the Lord is not in vain.”
Meanwhile, local businesses surrounding the church are already feeling the pinch. Food vendors, boda boda operators, and petty traders who rely on Sunday traffic reported a sharp decline in earnings.
“I used to make up to Sh120,000 on Sundays. Now, I barely reach Sh30,000,” lamented Ms Asha Mtemi, a food vendor who operates near the church premises.
