U.S. missionaries, Ugandan pastor die in car crash

Two U.S. missionaries and a Ugandan pastor died Monday in a car accident outside Uganda’s capital, Kampala.

Scott Volz and Ed Pohlreich served as missionaries with World Outreach Ministry Foundation (WOMF), a U.S.-based nonprofit that plants churches and offers other services in several countries. They had just returned from the primary school graduation ceremony at one of the ministry’s schools in Sudan when their car crashed into a ditch. Local responders rushed the two missionaries and Ugandan pastor Stephen Kaweesa to a local clinic, where they died.

At 2:45 a.m. Monday, the ministry received a call from its Ugandan branch about the accident.

“We’re going to greatly feel their loss,” said Cindy Byers, WOMF’s treasurer. “They’ve been with us from the very beginning, and we’re going to miss them greatly.”

Pohlreich and his wife, Marcy, served with the organization for 27 years, beginning as field missionaries in Uganda. Last year, Pohlreich began serving as chairman of the board, overseeing international missions. He also served as a pastor at Generational Hope Christian Center in Maple Valley, Wash.

“He was so full of life and passion and love for people,” Byers said. “He just wanted to travel the world and love on people and help them.”

Volz joined the organization in 1998 with his wife, Brenda. They both worked as teachers at Yesu Akwagala Bible College in Uganda. Volz also served as the chief operating officer for missions.

“He had a knack for taking in the local young men and raising them up like his own sons,” Byers said. “He was a gifted computer programmer, and he would teach them to work on computers.”

Kaweesa was the founder and pastor of Yesu Akwagala Church in Seguku, Uganda. An active pastor for nearly 30 years, Kaweesa was the vice-chairman of Uganda Christian Outreach Ministries.

“My Sunday school teacher, you taught me a lot when I was in primary school,” Kaggwa Daniel posted on Facebook. “You built me on the firm foundation, you encouraged me, I am what I am today because of you, RIP.”

Some members of Generational Hope Christian Center started a GoFundMe page to support the three families involved. It has already raised more than $17,000. The church will hold a vigil tonight.

“It’s definitely heartbreaking,” Byers said. “They loved God, and they loved people. They died doing what they loved best.”