We have partnered with Wycliffe Bible Translators, in their work supporting the translation of the New Testament section of the Bible into the Lugwere language of the Bagwere people in eastern Uganda. The new Testament has been published and is widely used in the community. They have expanded their work in  the community to include Youth and Trauma workshops and Sunday school training.

They are now working on the Old Testament. Exodus, Joshua, Psalms and Proverbs are ready for publication and they are working on Deuteronomy. The local association (LBTLA) also carries out literacy work in the community, with the additional offer of Lugwere Bible studies. This direct link with the Bagwere people means we can support the indigenous translation team. Along with seven or eight other UK churches who have partnered with this people group, we sponsored the construction of purpose built offices to advance the translation work.

We sent a small team out to Budaka in 2006 and again in September 2008, to establish personal connections and in April 2016 a small group visited again. This personal relationship is developing further and we have already been able to support some training of Pastors from Iganga and Budaka, in the understanding and interpretation of the Bible. We at BEC raised money through our 2015 Christmas Appeal, to pay for the installation of a water catchment system at the Budaka Integrated Primary School and this is now completed and operational. Prior to this system being installed, around a hundred children had to carry water in jerry cans from a community well around 1km away, every day. This took up valuable time, was hard work and led to some children regularly getting sick. The water quality of the well was also compromised and led to the need for considerable medication for the children.

With the system now operational and the tank filled by the latest rains, it has released funds previously committed to paying for water carriers and the bill for medication has been drastically reduced.

The most recent development for BEC has been the opportunity to sponsor some of the poorest children in the community through CompassionUK that partners with the Deliverance Church in Budaka, which is led by Pastor James Shaine.