Welcome to Shepherd’s Heart International Ministry! We are so glad you stopped by and paid us a visit.
Shepherd’s Heart International Ministry (SHIM) is a multi-national ministry started by Ugandan Pastors and Christian Leaders and Karina Smith.
It is located on Lingira Island in the Buvuma Island chain of Lake Victoria, Uganda. The nearest mainland city is Jinja, 11 miles away by boat. Jinja is the location of the long-sought source of the Nile River, and is quite near the Equator. The temperature, however, is surprisingly mild due to the elevation (about 3,000 feet) and the proximity to the largest freshwater lake in Africa.
The Buvuma Island chain consists of about 52 islands, ranging in size from very small – less than one mile around, to quite large – the main island of Buvuma is approximately 19 miles long and quite wide. Population for the islands is unknown, but estimates are in the seventy thousand range. Lingira Island is just about 5 miles in circumference and boasts a population of perhaps two thousand people amongst its 5 villages of Lingira, Kyoya, Katonga, Dubai, and Omollo’s Place.
SHIM is located on about eight acres on the north edge of the village of Kyoya (pronounced “choiya”).
In the spring of 2011, SHIM established a more permanent presence on Namiti Island, by opening and subsequently operating a medical clinic to serve Namiti and the surrounding islands. From Lingira, Namiti is located about 3 hours further south into the lake – an area that had previously suffered without reliable medical services.
A team of nurses, a clinical officer, and community health workers run the clinic and its adjacent maternity ward, and also works as a mobile team, traveling to teach on health-related issues on neighboring islands, and regularly providing needed immunizations to the islanders, specifically young children and mothers.
Our desire is to come alongside indigenous pastors and leaders and assist them to meet the needs of their people in effective, God-honoring ways.
Thank you for your interest in this ministry. We hope you enjoy your visit!
If you have any questions, please feel free to contact us.
Click here for a video tour of the SHIM base
To stay up-to-date on current happenings in SHIM and the islands, visit the SHIM Facebook page.