Society of the One Almighty God

The Society of the One Almighty God (Luganda: Ekibiina kya Katonda Omu Ayinza Byonna), commonly known as the Malakite Church, was an influential Christian denomination in Uganda established in 1914. The Society of the One Almighty God, popularly known as the Malakite Church and with its members often called the Malakites, was a Christian church in Uganda formed by Musajjakawa Malaki in 1914. The church was founded by Musajjakawa Malaki in collaboration with Joswa Kate Mugema, who served as the Mugema (head) of the Nkima (Monkey) clan. Joswa Kate was the Mugema, the head of the Nkima (Monkey) clan. In 1914 he and his clansman Malaki Mussajjakaawa broke away from the Anglican Church.^[1][2] The movement represented the first independent Christian church in Uganda and became a significant force in the country's religious landscape.^[2]

The formation of the Society of the One Almighty God emerged from disagreements with Anglican missionary practices in Uganda. They objected to two features which had become integral to the Christian mission in Uganda – the use of Medicine and the requirement of education as a prerequisite to baptism.^[2] Malaki, a Baganda, was twice refused baptism by Anglican missionaries, and in 1914 he founded the Malakite movement, which soon developed into a formal denomination that claimed more than 90,000 adherents within seven years.^[3]The rapid growth of the movement was facilitated by its policy of immediate baptism without educational prerequisites. The chance of immediate baptism was largely responsible for the rapid growth of the movement. This approach contrasted sharply with established missionary churches that required extensive catechetical instruction before baptism.^[2] The Church was strongly anti-colonialist and anti-Western, rejecting among other things Western medicine.^[4][3]

The Society of the One Almighty God developed distinctive theological positions that set it apart from other Christian denominations in Uganda. Bamalaki teachings allowed for polygamy, rejected idol worship, and called for the Sabbath to be observed on Saturday. The Saturday Sabbath observance created particular tensions with British colonial authorities who expected Sunday worship compliance. The church maintained strong opposition to Western influences, including medical practices. The Church was strongly anti-colonialist and anti-Western, rejecting among other things Western medicine. This stance reflected broader resistance to colonial cultural impositions and represented an early form of African Christian nationalism.^[5]

Beyond its religious functions, the Society of the One Almighty God carried significant political implications during the colonial period. Although the Malakites were a religious group, they also carried the seeds of anticolonial dissent.^[3] The movement's resistance to Western practices and its emphasis on indigenous African Christian expression made it a vehicle for cultural and political resistance against colonial rule. The church's membership was primarily concentrated among the Baganda people. The movement was confined almost entirely to the Baganda, Uganda's largest ethnic group, reflecting both the founders' cultural background and the church's appeal to traditional Buganda values.^[3][5] As the first independent church in Uganda, the Society of the One Almighty God established important precedents for African-initiated Christianity in the region.^[3][5]

• Dictionary of African Christian Biography - Uganda Christianity
• Dictionary of African Christian Biography entry on Malaki