Lena Pira has served as a full-time missionary in East Africa since 2009, when she boarded a one-way flight to Uganda and never looked back. A passionate teacher and curriculum development specialist, Lena is the founder of Leap Publishers, a Christian publishing house dedicated to producing high-quality, Christ-centred content that reaches people beyond the walls of the church. She is also the visionary behind AfricanBooks.com, an eBook platform designed to amplify African voices and connect them to a global audience.
With a heart for people, Lena has spent over a decade working in areas ranging from child development to content creation. She is actively engaged in several areas of ministry and service at her church, Phaneroo Ministries International under the leadership of Apostle Grace Lubega.
Lena is deeply passionate about all that God has done—and continues to do—in and through her life. She is driven by an unwavering love for God, a passion for excellence, and a bold vision to see lives transformed through the power of the written word. Would you consider partnering with her to advance the work of the Gospel in Uganda, across Africa, and beyond?
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CONTENT DEVELOPMENT
One of Lena’s primary areas of service is in the book and content development space. Over the years, she has earned a reputation as one of Uganda’s—and indeed Africa’s—leading Christian book publishers and curriculum developers. In this capacity, Lena has had the privilege of addressing diverse groups of authors and fellow publishers, passionately advocating for the transformation and advancement of the publishing landscape across Africa.
Through her publishing company, Leap Publishers, and its sister platform, AfricanBooks.com, Lena has had the honour of serving authors, publishers, churches, pastors, and many others in bringing their God-given messages to the world. Her commitment to excellence has not gone unnoticed. She has received several accolades and industry recognitions, including:
- Canex Prize in Publishing in Africa 2024 – Top 10 Longlist for Widow’s Wear Lipstick
- Uganda’s Business Trendsetter of the Year 2023
- 1st Place, Acaba Book Awards (Youth Category) 2023 – for Believe in Your Dreams
- Three-time Vine Awards Nominee – for Patches of Grace, Warrior, and Letters to My Daughter
LENA’S MISSIONARY JOURNEY
Click on the video link below to hear more from Lena about how she began her journey in missions by tuning in to her feature on the People and Stories episode, which aired in 2024 on Uganda’s Urban Television.