NNAZAALIBWA mu 1926 mu Crooksville, Ohio, Amerika. Taata ne maama baali tebettanira bya ddiini naye nga ffe abaana baabwe omunaana batukubiriza okugendanga mu kkanisa okusinza. Nnagendanga mu kkanisa y’Abapolotesitante abayitibwa Abamesodisiti. Bwe nnali nga nnina emyaka 14, omusomesa mu kkanisa eyo yampa ekirabo olw’okuba nnali mmazzeeko omwaka mulamba nga soosa kugenda kusinza.

Mu kiseera ekyo, muliraanwa waffe eyali ayitibwa Margaret Walker, eyali Omujulirwa wa Yakuwa, yatandika okujjanga ewaffe okuyigiriza maama Bayibuli. Lumu nange nnasalawo okubaawo nga basoma. Maama yalowooza nti nnali nja kubataataaganya, bw’atyo n’aŋŋamba mbaviire. Naye nnagezangako okuwuliriza bye baabanga basoma. Nga wayiseewo ekiseera, Margaret yambuuza nti, “Omanyi erinnya lya Katonda?” Nnamugamba nti, “Buli muntu alimanyi. Ye Katonda.” Yaŋŋamba nti, “Ggyayo Bayibuli yo osome Zabbuli 83:18.” Nnakola kye yaŋŋamba era ne nkizuula nti erinnya lya Katonda ye Yakuwa. Oluvannyuma nnagenda eri mikwano gyange ne mbagamba nti, “Bwe muddayo eka leero, mufune Bayibuli musome Zabbuli 83:18 mulabe erinnya lya Katonda.” Bwe ntyo nnatandikirawo okubuulira.

 Nnatandika okuyiga Bayibuli era ne mbatizibwa mu 1941. Waayita ekiseera kitono ne ntandika okukubiriza olukuŋŋaana olw’okusoma ekitabo. Nnakubiriza maama wange ne baganda bange okujjanga mu nkuŋŋaana, era baatandika okujja mu lukuŋŋaana olwo lwe nnali nkubiriza. Naye ye taata yali tayagala.

Nnayongera okuweebwa obuvunaanyizibwa obulala mu kibiina, era ne nkola etterekero ly’ebitabo awaka. Lumu taata yasonga ku bitabo byange ebyo n’agamba nti: “Olaba ebitabo ebyo byonna? Sikyayagala kubiraba mu nnyumba eno, era oyinza okugenda nabyo.” Bwe ntyo nnava awaka ne nfuna omuzigo mu kitundu ekiri okumpi n’eka mu Zanesville, Ohio, naye nnateranga okukyalako eka okuzzaamu ab’eka amaanyi.

Taata yagezaako okulemesa maama okugenda mu nkuŋŋaana. Oluusi maama bwe yabanga afulumye ennyumba ng’agenda mu nkuŋŋaana, taata yamukwatanga n’amusikambula n’amuzza mu nnyumba. Naye bwe yamalanga okumuyingiza mu nnyumba nga maama afulumira mu mulyango omulala ng’agenda mu nkuŋŋaana. Nnagamba maama nti: “Totya. Taata ajja kukoowa alekera awo okukulemesa.” Ekiseera bwe kyayitawo, taata yalekera awo okulemesa maama era maama n’atandika okugenda mu nkuŋŋaana awatali kuziyizibwa kwonna.

Mu 1943 twatandika okufuna olukuŋŋaana lw’Essomero ly’Omulimu gwa Katonda, era nnatandika okuwa emboozi mu ssomero eryo. Okuwabulwa okwampeebwanga mu ssomero eryo kwannyamba okulongoosa mu ngeri gye njigirizaamu.

Mu kiseera ekyo, Ssematalo II yali agenda mu maaso. Mu 1944, nnayitibwa okuyingira amagye. Nnagenda ku bbalakisi y’e Fort Hayes mu Columbus, Ohio, ne banneekebejja era ne mbaako ne foomu ze nzijuzaamu. Naye nnagamba abasirikale nti nnali sigenda kuyingira magye. Bandeka ne ŋŋenda. Nga wayise ennaku, omusirikale omu yajja we nnali mbeera n’aŋŋamba nti: “Corwin Robison, ntumiddwa okukukwata.”

Bwe nnaleetebwa mu kkooti oluvannyuma lwa wiiki bbiri, omulamuzi yaŋŋamba nti: “Singa mbadde n’obuyinza nnandibadde nkusalira ekibonerezo kya kusibibwa obulamu bwo bwonna. Olina ky’oyagala okwogera?” Nnamuddamu nti: “Ow’ekitiibwa, nnandibadde ntwalibwa ng’omubuulizi. Buli mulyango gwa muntu katuuti kange, era mbuulidde abantu bangi amawulire amalungi ag’Obwakabaka.” Omulamuzi yagamba abaali ku kakiiko akawuliriza omusango nti: “Temuzze wano kusalawo obanga omuvubuka ono mubuulizi oba nedda. Muzze kukakasa obanga omuvubuka ono yagaana okuyingira amagye.” Mu ddakiika ntono, abaali ku kakiiko akawuliriza omusango baasalawo nti omusango gwali gunsinze. Omulamuzi yampa ekibonerezo kya kusibibwa emyaka etaano mu kkomera ly’e Ashland, Kentucky.

Wiiki ebbiri ezaasooka nnazimala mu kkomera erimu mu Columbus, Ohio, era olunaku olwasooka akaduukulu ke banteekamu nnakalimu nzekka. Nnasaba Yakuwa ne mmugamba nti: “Siyinza kubeera mu kaduukulu kano okumala emyaka etaano. Simanyi kya kukola.”

Olunaku olwaddako, abasirikale banzigya mu kaduukulu ako. Nnatambula ne ŋŋenda awaali omusibe omu eyali omuwanvu ate nga wa kiwago, ne tubeera awo ffembi nga tuyimiridde mu ddirisa tutunuulira ebifa ebweru. Omusajja oyo baali bamuyita Paul, era yambuuza nti, “Ggwe kimpi jjuuni, bakusibidde ki?”  Nnamugamba nti, “Ndi omu ku Bajulirwa ba Yakuwa.” Yaŋŋamba nti, “Oli omu ku Bajulirwa ba Yakuwa? Kati olwo lwaki oli wano?” Nnamuddamu nti, “Abajulirwa ba Yakuwa tebeenyigira mu ntalo kutta bantu.” Yanziramu nti, “Ggwe bakusibye olw’okuba wagaana okugenda okutta abantu, kyokka abalala babasiba olw’okutta abantu. Ekyo kikola amakulu?” Nnamuddamu nti, “Nedda.”

Oluvannyuma Paul yaŋŋamba nti, “Waliwo ekkomera gye nnasibibwa okumala emyaka 15, era bwe nnali eyo nnasoma ebimu ku bitabo byammwe.” Mu kaseera ako nnasaba Yakuwa ne mmugamba nti, “Ai Yakuwa, nnyamba omusajja ono abeere mulungi gye ndi.” Mu kaseera ako Paul yaŋŋamba nti: “Singa wabaawo akukwatako, ggwe leekaana buleekaanyi nze nja kumukolako.” Mu kitundu ky’ekkomera mwe nnali, twalimu abasibe 50 naye tewali n’omu yampisa bubi.

Bwe bankyusa ne bantwala mu kkomera ly’e Ashland, nnasangayo ab’oluganda abawerako abaaIi abakulu mu by’omwoyo. Ab’oluganda abo bannyamba nnyo awamu n’abalala okusigala nga tuli banywevu mu by’omwoyo. Buli wiiki baatuwanga obuvunaanyizibwa obw’okusoma ebitundu mu Bayibuli n’okuteekateeka ebibuuzo n’eby’okuddamu mu nkuŋŋaana ezaali ziyitibwa Bible Bees ze twafunanga mu kkomera. Baalonda n’ow’oluganda agabira abalala ebitundu eby’okubuuliramu. Twali tusula mu kisenge ekinene ekyalimu ebitanda ebiwerako. Ow’oluganda oyo gwe baalonda yaŋŋambanga nti: “Robison, ggwe ojja okubuulira ebitanda bino na bino. Kakasa nti abo bonna abasula ku bitanda ebyo obabuulira nga tebannagenda. Ekyo kye kitundu kyo eky’okubuuliramu.” Ekyo kyatuyamba okubuulira mu ngeri entegeke.

Ssematalo II yaggwa mu 1945, naye baasigala bakyansibye mu kkomera okumala ekiseera. Nnalowoozanga nnyo ku b’eka, kubanga taata yali yaŋŋamba nti, “Singa ovaawo, abalala nsobola okubamala amaanyi.” Naye bwe nnateebwa, kye nnasanga kyanneewuunyisa nnyo. Wadde nga taata yeeyongera okuyigganya ab’eka, musanvu ku bo baali bagenda mu nkuŋŋaana obutayosa era omu ku bannyinaze yali abatiziddwa.

Olutalo lw’e Korea bwe lwabalukawo mu 1950, nnayitibwa omulundi ogw’okubiri okugenda ku bbalakisi y’e Fort Hayes nga baagala nnyingire amagye. Oluvannyuma lw’okunneekebejja, omusirikale omu yaŋŋamba nti, “Ggwe omu ku abo abasinga okuba mu mbeera ennungi.” Nnamuddamu nti, “Ekyo kirungi, naye sigenda kuyingira magye.” Nnajuliza 2 Timoseewo 2:3 ne mmugamba nti, “Nze ndi musirikale wa Kristo  siyinza kuyingira ggye ddala.” Yasiriikirira okumala akabanga, oluvannyuma n’aŋŋamba nti, “Genda.”

Waayita ekiseera kitono ne ŋŋenda mu lukuŋŋaana olw’abo abaagala okuweereza ku Beseri olwali ku lukuŋŋaana olunene mu Cincinnati, Ohio. Ow’oluganda Milton Henschel yatugamba nti ow’oluganda yenna ayagala okuba n’eby’okukola ebingi ennyo mu mulimu gw’Obwakabaka, ekibiina kya Yakuwa kisobola okumukozesa ku Beseri. Nnajjuza foomu ya Beseri ne bampita, era ne ntandika okuweereza ku Beseri y’omu Brooklyn mu Agusito 1954. Okuva olwo mbadde mpeereza ku Beseri.

Sibeerangako awo nga sirina mulimu ku Beseri. Okumala emyaka, nnakolanga ku byuma ebifumba amazzi eby’omu kizimbe gye bakubira ebitabo n’eby’omu kizimbe okuli ofiisi, era nnakolanga ne ku byuma ebirala nga mw’otwalidde n’okukanika amakufulu. Nnaweerezaako ne ku Bizimbe Ebituuza Enkuŋŋaana Ennene mu kibuga New York.

Njagala nnyo enteekateeka ez’eby’omwoyo ezibeera ku Beseri, omuli okwekenneenya ekyawandiikibwa ekya buli lunaku buli ku makya, olukuŋŋaana lw’okusoma Omunaala gw’Omukuumi, awamu n’okwenyigira mu mulimu gw’okubuulira n’ekibiina. Bw’okirowoozaako, okiraba nti ebyo bye bintu amaka gonna ag’Abajulirwa ba Yakuwa bye gasobola okukola era bye geetaaga. Abazadde n’abaana bwe beekenneenya ekyawandiikibwa ekya buli lunaku ng’amaka, ne baba n’Okusinza kw’Amaka obutayosa, era ne beenyigira mu bujjuvu mu nkuŋŋaana z’ekibiina ne mu mulimu gw’okubuulira, ab’omu maka bonna baba banywevu mu by’omwoyo.

Nfunye emikwano mingi ku Beseri ne mu kibiina. Abamu ku bo babadde Bakristaayo abaafukibwako amafuta era abamu baamala dda okufuna empeera yaabwe mu ggulu. Abalala babadde ba ndiga ndala. Naye abaweereza ba Yakuwa bonna nga mw’otwalidde n’Ababeseri tebatuukiridde. Bwe nfuna obutategeeragana n’ow’oluganda, nfuba okulaba nti ntabagana naye. Nfumiitiriza ku ebyo ebiri mu Matayo 5:23, 24 n’engeri gye tusaanidde okugonjoolamu obutategeeragana. Si kyangu kwetonda, naye nkirabye nti bwe nneetonda emirundi mingi kimalawo obutakkaanya.

Olw’okuba nkaddiye, tekinnyanguyira kubuulira nnyumba ku nnyumba, naye ekyo tekinnemesezza kuweereza Yakuwa. Ngezezzaako okuyiga Olukyayina  era nnyumirwa nnyo okubuulira abantu ku nguudo aboogera Olukyayina. Ebiseera ebimu ku makya ngaba magazini eziri wakati wa 30 ne 40.

Nnasobola n’okuddiŋŋana omuwala eyali mu China! Lumu omuwala eyali alanga obutandaalo kwe bateeka ebibala bwe yali ayita we nnali nnyimiridde nga mbuulira, yateekako akamwenyumwenyu. Nange nnateekako akamwenyumwenyu era ne mmuwa magazini y’Omunaala gw’Omukuumi ne Awake! ez’Olukyayina. Yazikkiriza era n’aŋŋamba nti ayitibwa Katie. Okuva olwo, buli Katie lwe yandabanga, yajjanga wendi n’ayogera nange. Nnamuyigiriza amannya g’ebibala ebitali bimu ag’Olungereza, nga ngoogera nga bw’addamu. Nnakubaganya naye ebirowoozo ku Bayibuli, era n’akkiriza akatabo Baibuli Ky’Eyigiriza. Naye oluvannyuma lwa wiiki ntono, nnalekera awo okumulaba.

Nga wayise emyezi, waliwo omuwala omulala naye eyali alanga eby’amaguzi gwe nnawa magazini n’azikkiriza. Wiiki eyaddako, yampa essimu ye n’aŋŋamba nti, “Yogerako n’omuntu ono ali e China.” Nnamuddamu nti, “Sirina muntu gwe mmanyi China.” Naye bwe nnalaba ng’alemeddeko, nnakkiriza okukwata essimu ne ŋŋamba nti, “Hallo, nze Robison.” Oyo gwe nnali njogera naye ku ssimu yaŋŋamba nti, “Robby, nze Katie. Nnaddayo e China.” Nnamugamba nti, “China?” Katie yanziramu nti, “Yee. Robby, olaba omuwala oyo akuwadde essimu? Oyo muganda wange. Wanjigiriza ebintu bingi ebirungi. Nkusaba naye omuyigirize nga nange bwe wanjigiriza.” Nnamugamba nti, “Katie, nja kukola kyonna kye nsobola okumuyigiriza. Weebale kumbuulira gy’oli.” Nneeyongera okwogerako ne muganda wa Katie, naye mu kiseera kitono naye n’ambulako. Abawala abo yonna gye bali, nsaba Yakuwa abayambe beeyongere okuyiga ebimukwatako.

Kati mmaze emyaka 73 nga mpeereza Yakuwa. Ndi musanyufu nnyo okuba nti yannyamba okusigala nga ndi mwesigwa gy’ali mu kkomera. Baganda bange ne bannyinaze baŋŋamba nti bwe nnasigala nga ndi munywevu nga taata anjigganya, kyabanyweza. Ekiseera bwe kyayitawo, maama ne baganda bange mukaaga baabatizibwa. Ekiseera kyatuuka, taata n’alekera awo okuyigganya ab’eka era yagendako ne mu nkuŋŋaana ezimu nga tannafa.

Katonda bw’anaaba ayagadde, ab’eŋŋanda zange ne mikwano gyange abaafa bajja kuzuukira tubeere wamu mu nsi empya. Lowooza ku ssanyu lye tujja okufuna nga tuweereza Yakuwa emirembe gyonna nga tuli wamu n’abo be twagala! *