Nnazaalibwa mu 1927 mu kabuga akatono akali okumpi n’ekibuga Chicago, mu Illinois, mu Amerika. Taata ne Maama baazaala abaana bataano—nze, Jetha, Don, Karl, ne Joy. Ffenna twali tumaliridde okuweereza Yakuwa n’omutima gwaffe gwonna. Mu 1943, Jetha yagenda mu ssomero lya Gireyaadi ery’omulundi ogwokubiri. Mu 1944, Don yagenda okuweereza ku Beseri. Mu 1947, Karl naye yagenda okuweereza ku Beseri. Ate mu 1951, ne Joy yabeegattako ku Beseri. Ekyokulabirako ekirungi kye banteerawo awamu n’ekya bazadde bange, byandeetera okukola ekisingawo mu buweereza bwange.

Taata ne Maama baali banyumirwa nnyo okusoma Bayibuli era baali baagala nnyo Katonda. Naffe baatuyigiriza okwagala Katonda. Kyokka Taata bwe yali aweereza mu magye mu Bulaaya mu biseera bya Ssematalo I, yakyawa amadiini. Maama yasanyuka nnyo bwe yalaba nga Taata akomyewo nga mulamu oluvannyuma lw’olutalo, era yamugamba nti: “Karl, tugende mu kkanisa tusabe nga bwe twakolanga.” Taata yamugamba nti: “Nja kukuwerekera, naye sijja kuyingira.” Maama yamubuuza nti: “Lwaki?” Taata yamuddamu nti: “Bwe twali mu lutalo bannaddiini ab’enzikiriza y’emu, naye nga buli omu awagira abasirikale ab’ensi ye, baasabiranga abajaasi abaabanga bagenda okulwana! Kati olwo Katonda yali awagira enjuyi zombi?”

Oluvannyuma Maama bwe yali ku kkanisa, Abajulirwa ba Yakuwa babiri bajja awaka. Baawa Taata emizingo ebiri egy’akatabo akayitibwa Light, akaali koogera ku ebyo ebiri mu kitabo ky’Okubikkulirwa, era nga ke baali bakozesa okuyigiriza abantu Bayibuli mu kiseera ekyo. Taata yasanyuka nnyo era yakkiriza obutabo obwo. Maama bwe yalaba obutabo obwo yatandika okubusoma. Lumu yasoma ekirango ekyali mu mawulire ekyali kiyita abantu abaali baagala okuyiga Bayibuli nga bakozesa obutabo Light. Yasalawo okugenda. Bwe yatuuka mu kifo ekyali kiragiddwa mu mawulire, omukyala omukadde ye yaggulawo oluggi. Maama yamulaga akamu ku butabo obwo era n’amubuuza nti, “Wano we basomera obutabo buno?” Yamuddamu nti, “Ye nnyabo we wano, yingira.” Wiiki eyaddako Maama yatutwala ffenna abaana, era okuva olwo buli wiiki twagendanga naye.

Mu lukuŋŋaana olumu lwe twalimu eyali akubiriza yaŋŋamba okusoma Zabbuli 144:​15, awalaga nti abo abaweereza Yakuwa baba basanyufu. Ekyawandiikibwa ekyo nnakyagala nnyo wamu n’ebirala bibiri, ekiri mu 1 Timoseewo 1:11 ekigamba nti Yakuwa “Katonda  omusanyufu,” ne Abeefeso 5:​1, awatukubiriza ‘okukoppa Katonda.’ Nnakiraba nti nnina okuweereza omutonzi wange nga ndi musanyufu era ne mmwebaza olw’enkizo ey’okumuweereza. Ebyo bye bintu ebibiri bye nfubye okukola mu bulamu bwange bwonna.

Ekibiina ekyatuli okumpi kyali mu Chicago era waaliwo olugendo lwa mayiro 20. Wadde kyali kityo, twagendanga mu nkuŋŋaana era nneeyongera okuyiga ebintu bingi mu Bayibuli. Nzijukira lumu bwe twali mu lukuŋŋaana, eyali akubiriza yalonda Jetha okubaako ky’addamu. Bwe nnawuliriza kye yaddamu muli nnagamba nti: ‘Ekyo mbadde nkimanyi. Nnandibadde mpanise ne nkiddamu.’ Okuva olwo nnatandika okweteekerateekera enkuŋŋaana n’okuteekateeka eby’okuddamu. N’ekisinga obukulu, okufaananako baganda bange, nange enkolagana yange ne Yakuwa yeeyongera okunywera. Bwe ntyo nnabatizibwa mu 1941.

Okusingira ddala nzijukira olukuŋŋaana lwe twagendako mu Cleveland, Ohio, mu 1942. Okufaananako ab’oluganda abalala, ffenna ng’amaka twasula mu weema okumpi n’ekifo awaali olukuŋŋaana. Ate era ab’oluganda ne bannyinnaffe mu bibuga ebisukka 50 mu Amerika, baawuliriza programu y’olukuŋŋaana olwo okuyitira ku ssimu. Ssematalo II yali akyagenda mu maaso era Abajulirwa ba Yakuwa baali bayigganyizibwa nnyo. Olweggulo nnalaba ab’oluganda nga basimbye emmotoka zaabwe ng’amataala tebagatunuzza gye tusula. Baali bateesezza nti buli mmotoka esulemu ow’oluganda ng’ali bulindaala. Singa wabaawo alumba ab’oluganda, buli omu ku b’oluganda abo bandimukubyemu amataala ne gamulemesa okulaba gy’alaga era ne bakuba n’eŋŋombe. Abalala bwe bandiwulidde eŋŋombe bandidduse mangu okutaasa. Muli nnakiraba nti Abajulirwa ba Yakuwa baba beeteefuteefu buli kiseera. Tewali kyabaawo, era olw’okuba nnali mpulira nti tulina obukuumi nneebaka bulungi.

Nga wayise emyaka, nnalowooza ku lukuŋŋaana olwo, era ne nkiraba nti maama wange teyaliimu kutya kwonna wadde okweraliikirira. Yali yeesigira ddala Yakuwa era n’ekibiina kye. Siyinza kwerabira kyakulabirako kye yanteerawo.

Nga wabulayo ekiseera kitono olukuŋŋaana olwo lutuuke, maama yatandika okuweereza nga payoniya owa bulijjo. N’olw’ekyo, yassaayo nnyo omwoyo ku mboozi ezaali zikwata ku buweereza obw’ekiseera kyonna. Bwe twali tuddayo eka yagamba nti, “Nnandyagadde okusigala nga mpeereza nga payoniya, naye ekyo sisobola kukikola ate mu kiseera kye kimu ne ndabirira bulungi awaka.” Oluvannyuma yatubuuza oba nga tusobola okumuyambako. Twamuddamu nti tusobola, era buli omu ku ffe yamuwa ekisenge kimu oba bibiri eky’okulongoosa nga tetunnalya kya nkya. Bwe twagendanga ku ssomero yakeberanga enju okukakasa nti nnyonjo bulungi, oluvannyuma n’agenda mu kubuulira. Yali mukyala alina eby’okukola ebingi, naye yalabiriranga bulungi abaana be. Bwe twakomangawo awaka okulya ekyemisana oba bwe twakomangawo nga tuvudde ku ssomero, bulijjo maama twamusangangawo. Ennaku ezimu bwe twavanga ku ssomero, twagendanga naye mu mulimu gw’okubuulira, era ekyo kyatuyamba okutegeera omulimu bapayoniya gwe bakola.

Nnatandika okuweereza nga payoniya nga nnina emyaka 16. Wadde nga taata yali tannafuuka Mujulirwa wa Yakuwa mu kiseera ekyo, yayagalanga nnyo okumanya ebikwata ku buweereza bwange. Lumu akawungeezi nnamugamba nti wadde nnali nfubye nnyo, nnali sinnafunayo muntu n’omu akkiriza kumuyigiriza Bayibuli. Nnasiriikiriramu katono ne mubuuza nti, “Wandyagadde nkuyigirize Bayibuli?”  Yakifumiitirizaako okumala akaseera, oluvannyuma n’aŋŋamba nti, “Siraba kiŋŋaana.” Bwe kityo, omuyizi wange owa Bayibuli eyasooka yali taata wange. Eyo nga yali nkizo ya maanyi nnyo!

Twasomanga akatabo akayitibwa “The Truth Shall Make You Free.” Oluvannyuma lw’akaseera nnakiraba nti Taata yali annyamba okukulaakulana mu ngeri gye nneesomesaamu Bayibuli n’engeri gye njigirizaamu abalala ebyo ebigirimu. Ng’ekyokulabirako, lumu akawungeezi bwe twamala okusoma akatundu mu katabo yaŋŋamba nti: “Ndaba akatabo kye kagamba. Naye okakasa otya nti ekyo kye kagamba kituufu?” Ekibuuzo ekyo nnali sikyetegekedde, bwe ntyo nnamugamba nti, “Ekyo sisobola kukikunnyonnyola kati, naye we tunnaddiramu okusoma nja kuba nsobola okukunnyonnyola.” Era ku mulundi ogwaddako nnamunnyonnyola. Nnafuna ennyiriri endala mu Bayibuli ezaali zikakasa ensonga gye twali twogerako. Okuva ku olwo, nnanoonyerezanga bulungi nga nneeteekateeka okumuyigiriza. Ekyo kyannyamba okukulaakulana mu by’omwoyo era ne taata kyamuyamba okukulaakulana. Yakolera ku ebyo bye yali ayiga era mu 1952 yabatizibwa.

NNEEYONGERA OKUYIGA NGA NDI KU BESERI

Emyaka gino gyonna, nkoze emirimu egy’enjawulo ku Beseri era njize ebintu ebipya bingi. Mu butuufu, mu myaka 75 gye mmaze nga mpeereza ku Beseri, nnayigirizibwa okukuba ebitabo n’okukola ku by’embalirira. Ate era nnayiga okugula ebintu ebiba byetaagibwa ku Beseri era n’okuweereza ebyo ebiba byetaagibwa mu bitundu ebirala. N’ekisinga byonna, nnyumirwa nnyo okuyigirizibwa kwe tufuna ku Beseri, okuyitira mu kwekenneenya ekyawandiikibwa eky’olunaku buli ku makya, n’emboozi eziweebwa Ababeseri.

Ate era nnina bingi bye nnayigira ku muto wange Karl, eyatandika okuweereza ku Beseri mu 1947. Yali yeesomesa bulungi Bayibuli era yali ayigiriza bulungi. Lumu nnamusaba annyambe ku mboozi gye nnali mpeereddwa. Nnamugamba nti nnalina ebintu bingi bye nnali nnoonyerezzaako naye nnali simanyi ngeri ya kubikozesaamu. Yannyamba okumanya eky’okukola ng’ambuuza ekibuuzo kimu, “Joel, emboozi yo erina mutwe ki?” Nnategeera ekyo kye yali ategeeza; nnalina kukozesa ebyo byokka ebikwatagana n’omutwe gw’emboozi yange ebirala mbireke. Ekyo kye yanjigiriza sikyerabiranga.

Okubeera abasanyufu nga tuweereza ku Beseri, twetaaga okwenyigira mu bujjuvu mu mulimu gw’okubuulira,  era ekyo bwe tukikola kivaamu ebirungi bingi. Ekimu ku byokulabirako bye nzijukira obulungi kyaliwo lumu akawungeezi mu Bronx, mu kibuga New York. Nze n’ow’oluganda omulala twagenda okukyalira omukyala omu eyali yaweebwa magazini y’Omunaala gw’Omukuumi n’eya Zuukuka! Tweyanjula nga tugamba nti, “Akawungeezi ka leero tuli mu kuyamba abantu okumanya ebintu ebirungi ebiri mu Bayibuli.” Yaddamu nti, “Bwe biba bikwata ku Bayibuli, muyingire.” Twasoma era ne twogera ku byawandiikibwa ebitali bimu ebyogera ku Bwakabaka bwa Katonda n’ensi empya egenda okujja. Bye twamubuulira byamukwatako nnyo, era wiiki eyaddako yayita mikwano gye egiwerako okubeerawo nga tukubaganya ebirowoozo. Omukyala oyo n’omwami we oluvannyuma baafuuka abaweereza ba Yakuwa abeesigwa.

Nnali mmaze emyaka 10 nga nnoonya ow’okuwasa era kyaddaaki nnafuna mwannyinaffe omutuufu. Kiki ekyannyamba okufuna omukyala omulungi? Nnasaba nnyo Yakuwa era nnalowooza nnyo ku ekyo kye twandikoze oluvannyuma lw’okufumbiriganwa.

Oluvannyuma lw’olukuŋŋaana olunene olwali mu Yankee Stadium mu 1953, nnasisinkana mwannyinaffe eyali ayitibwa Mary Aniol. Mwannyinaffe oyo ne Jetha bombi baali mu ssomero lya Gireyaadi ery’omulundi ogwokubiri, era baali baweerereza wamu ng’abaminsani mu kitundu kye kimu. Nga yenna musanyufu, Mary yambuulira ebikwata ku buweereza bwe ng’omuminsani mu Caribbean era n’abayizi ba Bayibuli be yali ayigirizza emyaka gye yali amaze mu kitundu ekyo. Bwe tweyongera okumanyagana twakiraba nti ffenna twalina ebiruubirirwa bye bimu eby’eby’omwoyo. Tweyongera okwagalana ennyo, era mu 1955 twafumbiriganwa. Mary yali kirabo gye ndi okuva eri Yakuwa era yali kyakulabirako kirungi mu ngeri nnyingi. Bwe yasabibwanga okukola ekintu yakikolanga n’essanyu. Yali mukozi munyiikivu, yali afaayo ku balala, era okukola ebyo Yakuwa by’ayagala kye yakulembezanga mu bulamu bwe. (Mat. 6:33) Twakola omulimu gw’okukyalira ebibiina okumala emyaka esatu, era mu 1958 twayitibwa okuweereza ku Beseri.

Waliwo ebintu bingi bye nnayigira ku Mary. Ng’ekyokulabirako, bwe twali twakafumbiriganwa twasalawo nti tujja kusomera wamu Bayibuli nga buli lwe tusoma, tusoma ennyiriri nga 15. Omu ku ffe bwe yamalanga okusoma ennyiriri ezimu, twakubaganyanga ebirowoozo ku byawandiikibwa ebyo ne twogera ku ngeri gye tuyinza okubikolerako mu bulamu bwaffe. Mary yannyumizanga ebyo bye yali yayiga bwe yagenda mu ssomero lya Gireyaadi era n’ebyo bye yayiga ng’aweereza ng’omuminsani. Ebyo bye nnamuyigirako byannyamba okwongera okukulaakulana mu ngeri gye njigirizaamu nga mpa emboozi zange era n’okumanya engeri y’okuzzaamu bannyinnaffe amaanyi.—Nge. 25:11.

Mukyala wange Mary gwe nnali njagala ennyo, yafa mu 2013. Naye nneesunga nnyo okumulaba mu nsi empya! Mu kiseera kino, ndi mwetegefu okweyongera okubaako bye njiga n’okwesiga Yakuwa n’omutima gwange gwonna. (Nge. 3:​5, 6) Bwe ndowooza ku ebyo abantu ba Yakuwa bye bagenda okukola mu nsi empya, nziramu amaanyi era nfuna essanyu. Kya lwatu ekyo kijja kuzingiramu okuyiga ebintu ebipya ebikwata ku Muyigiriza Waffe Asingiridde. Mazima ddala nneebaza nnyo Yakuwa olw’ebyo byonna by’anjigirizza, n’olw’ekisa ekyensusso ky’andaze.