Nnazaalibwa nga Ddesemba 22, 1929, mu kyalo ekiyitibwa Noville, ekyalimu faamu mwenda ekyali okumpi n’ekibuga Bastogne, mu kitundu ekiyitibwa Belgian Ardennes. Nnaaberanga wamu ne bazadde bange ku faamu era nnanyumirwa nnyo emyaka egy’obuto bwange. Nze ne muganda wange omuto Raymond twakamanga ente nga tukozesa mikono era twayambangako mu kukungula ebirime. Ku kyalo kyaffe, abantu baalinga bumu era baayambagananga.

Bazadde bange, Emile ne Alice, baali banyiikivu nnyo mu ddiini y’Abakatoliki. Buli lwa ssande baagendanga okusaba. Kyokka awo nga mu 1939, bapayoniya okuva mu Bungereza bajja ku kyalo kyaffe era ne basuubiza okuleeteranga taata magazini ya Consolation (kati eyitibwa Zuukuka!). Mangu ddala taata wange yakiraba nti yali azudde amazima era n’atandika okusoma Bayibuli. Bwe yalekera awo okugenda ku Kkereziya, baliraanwa baffe abaali mikwano gyaffe baakola kyonna kye basobola okumulemesa okuyiga amazima. Baapikiriza nnyo taata nga baagala asigale mu ddiini y’Abakatoliki era emirundi mingi baamuwakanyanga.

Kyannuma nnyo okulaba taata ng’apikirizibwa nnyo. Ekyo kyandeetera okusaba Katonda ayambe taata mu ssaala gye njogeddeko ku ntandikwa. Baliraanwa baffe bwe baalekera awo okuziyiza taata, nnawulira essanyu lingi. Ekyo kyankakasa nti Yakuwa “awulira okusaba.”

Abasirikale Abanazi ab’omu Bugirimaani baalumba Bubirigi nga Maayi 10, 1940, era ekyo kyaviirako abantu bangi okudduka mu bitundu byabwe. Ffenna awaka twaddukira mu bukiikaddyo bwa Bufalansa. Bwe twali tudduka, twesanga nga tuli wakati w’amagye ag’emirundi ebiri agaali galwanagana, aga Bugirimaani n’aga Bufalansa.

 Bwe twakomawo ku faamu yaffe, twasanga ebintu byaffe ebisinga obungi bibbiddwa. Embwa yaffe, Bobbie, yokka ye yaliwo okutwaniriza. Ebintu ng’ebyo byandeetera okwebuuza, ‘Lwaki waliwo entalo n’okubonaabona?’

Mu kiseera ekyo twaganyulwa nnyo ow’oluganda Emile Schrantz, a eyali aweereza ng’omukadde era payoniya bwe yatukyalira. Yakozesa Bayibuli okutunnyonnyola ensonga lwaki waliwo okubonaabona era yaddamu n’ebibuuzo ebirala bye nnali nneebuuza ebikwata ku bulamu. Ekyo kyandeetera okufuna enkolagana ey’oku lusegere ne Yakuwa era nnali mukakafu nti ye Katonda ow’okwagala.

Olutalo ne bwe lwali terunnaggwa, twawuliziganyanga n’Abajulirwa ba Yakuwa abalala oba oluusi baatukyaliranga. Mu Agusito 1943, Ow’oluganda José-Nicolas Minet yatukyalira ku faamu okuwa emboozi. Yatubuuza nti, “Baani abaagala okubatizibwa?” Taata wange, nange twawanika emikono. Twabatizibwa mu kagga akatono akaali okumpi ne faamu yaffe.

Mu Ddesemba 1944, eggye lya Bugirimaani lyakola olulumba olw’amaanyi olwasembayo ku nsi za Bulaaya ow’ebugwanjuba. Olulumba olwo oluvannyuma lwamanyibwa nga Olutalo lw’e Bulge. Twali tubeera kumpi n’ekitundu awaali olutalo olwo, era twali tetuva mu nju okumala ebbanga lya mwezi nga gumu. Lumu bwe nnafuluma wabweru okuwa ensolo emmere, ebikompola byagwa ku faamu yaffe era ne bitikkulako akasolya k’ekizimbe mwe twaterekanga emmere yaffe n’ey’ensolo. Omusirikale Omumerika eyali okumpi awo yaŋŋamba nti, “Galamira wansi!” Nnadduka ne ngalamira okumpi ne we yali era n’assa ku mutwe gwange ekikoofiira kye okusobola okunkuuma nneme kutuukibwako kabi.

Oluvannyuma lw’olutalo, twatandika okuwuliziganya obutayosa n’ekibiina ky’e Liège, ekyali mu bukiikakkono mayiro nga 56 okuva we twali. Oluvannyuma twatandikawo ekibinja ekitono mu Bastogne. Nnatandika okukola mu kitongole ekyali kiwooza omusolo era nnafuna akakisa okusoma eby’amateeka. Oluvannyuma nnatandika okukola mu ofiisi emu eya gavumenti mu kitundu mwe twali. Mu 1951 twateekateeka olukuŋŋaana olunene mu Bastogne. Abantu nga 100 be baaliwo ku lukuŋŋaana olwo, era mu bantu abo mwe mwali ne mwannyinaffe Elly Reuter, eyali aweereza nga payoniya omunyiikivu.  Elly yali atindizze olugendo lwa mayiro 31 ng’akozesa akagaali. Mu kiseera kitono twatandika okwogerezeganya. Elly yali ayitiddwa okugenda mu ssomero lya Gireyaadi mu Amerika. Yawandiikira ab’oluganda ku kitebe kyaffe ekikulu okubannyonnyola ensonga lwaki yali tasobola kubaawo mu ssomero eryo. Ow’oluganda Knorr, mu kiseera ekyo eyali atwala obukulembeze mu bantu ba Yakuwa, yamuddamu n’amugamba nti oboolyawo lumu alibaawo mu ssomero lya Gireyaadi ng’ali wamu n’omwami we. Twafumbiriganwa mu Febwali 1953.

Mu mwaka ogwo gwe gumu, nze ne Elly twagenda ku lukuŋŋaana olunene olwali mu kibuga New York, mu Amerika, mu Yankee Stadium. Bwe twali eyo, nnasisinkana ow’oluganda eyasuubiza okumpa omulimu omulungi era n’ankubiriza okusengukira mu Amerika. Oluvannyuma lw’okusaba Yakuwa ne tumutegeeza ensonga eyo, nze ne Elly twasalawo obutakkiriza mulimu ogwo era ne tuddayo mu Bubirigi okuwagira ekibinja ekyalimu ababuulizi nga kkumi mu Bastogne. Omwaka ogwaddako twazaala omwana waffe ow’obulenzi, Serge. Eky’ennaku, nga wayise emyezi musanvu, Serge yalwala n’afa. Twatuukirira Yakuwa mu kusaba ne tumubuulira obulumi bwe twalina, era yatuzzaamu amaanyi okuyitira mu ssuubi ery’okuzuukira.

Mu Okitobba 1961, nnafuna omulimu ogutaali gwa kiseera kyonna ogwandisobozesezza okuweereza nga payoniya. Kyokka ku lunaku olwo lwe lumu, ow’oluganda eyali aweereza ng’omuweereza w’ettabi mu Bubirigi yankubira essimu. Yambuuza obanga nnali nsobola okukola ng’omulabirizi akyalira ebibiina. Nnamugamba nti: “Kiba kitya singa tusooka kuweerezaako nga bapayoniya nga tetunnatandika kukola mulimu gwa kukyalira bibiina?” Yakkiriza kye nnamugamba. Oluvannyuma lw’okuweereza nga bapayoniya okumala emyezi munaana, twatandika okukyalira ebibiina mu Ssebutemba 1962.

Bwe twali twakamala emyaka ebiri nga tukyalira ebibiina, twayitibwa okuweereza ku Beseri mu kibuga Brussels. Twatandika okuweereza ku Beseri mu Okitobba 1964. Twafuna emikisa mingi mu buweereza obwo. Nga waakayita ekiseera kitono ng’Ow’oluganda Knorr amaze okukyalira Beseri yaffe mu 1965, nneewuunya nnyo bwe nnalondebwa okuba omuweereza w’ettabi. Oluvannyuma nze ne Elly, twayitibwa mu Ssomero lya Gireyaadi ery’omulundi ogwa 41. Ebigambo Ow’oluganda Knorr bye yali ayogedde emyaka 13 emabega byali bituukiridde! Oluvannyuma lw’okumaliriza emisomo gyaffe, twaddayo ku Beseri y’omu Bubirigi.

Emyaka bwe gizze giyitawo, nfunye enkizo ey’okukozesa obumanyirivu bwe nnina mu by’amateeka okuyambako mu kulwanirira eddembe lyaffe ery’okusinza mu nsi za Bulaaya ne mu bitundu ebirala. (Baf. 1:7) Kino kinsobozesezza okusisinkana abakungu okuva mu nsi ezisukka mu 55, omulimu gwaffe gye gwali gukugirwa oba guwereddwa. Mu kifo ky’okubuulira abakungu abo obumanyirivu bwe nnina mu by’amateeka, mbaddenga nneeyanjula nga “omusajja wa Katonda.” Bulijjo mbaddenga nsaba Yakuwa okumpa obulagirizi nga nkimanyi nti “omutima  gwa kabaka [oba ogw’omulamuzi] gulinga emikutu gy’amazzi mu mukono gwa Yakuwa. Aguzza buli gy’ayagala.”—Nge. 21:1.

Nkyajjukira bulungi ebyo ebyaliwo bwe nnasisinkana omubaka omu owa Paliyamenti y’omu Bulaaya. Nnali mmusabye emirundi egiwerako okumusisinkana era kyaddaaki yakkiriza tusisinkane. Yaŋŋamba nti, “Nkuwadde eddakiika ttaano zokka, era sigenda kwongerako n’emu.” Nnakutamya omutwe ne ntandika okusaba. Ng’atidde, yambuuza kye nnali nkola. Nnayimusa omutwe ne mmugamba nti, “Mbadde nneebaza Katonda olw’okuba oli muweereza we.” Yambuuza nti, “Otegeeza ki?” Nnamulaga ebyo ebiri mu Abaruumi 13:4. Olw’okuba yali Mupolotesitanti, ekyawandiikibwa ekyo kyamukwatako nnyo. N’ekyavaamu, yayogera nange okumala eddakiika 30 era ebyavaamu byali birungi nnyo. Era yakiraga nti yali assa ekitiibwa mu mulimu gwaffe.

Emyaka bwe gizze giyitawo, abantu ba Yakuwa bawozezza emisango mingi mu Bulaaya egikwata ku butabaako ludda lwe bawagira mu by’obufuzi, ku by’emisolo, okuba n’obuvunaanyizibwa ku baana, ne ku bintu ebirala. Nfunye enkizo okwenyigira mu kuwoza mingi ku misango egyo era ndabye engeri Yakuwa gy’atuyambyemu era n’atusobozesa okuwangula. Abajulirwa ba Yakuwa bawangudde emisango egisukka mu 140 mu Kkooti ya Bulaaya ey’Eddembe ly’Obuntu!

Mu myaka gya 1990, nnakolera wamu n’Ow’oluganda Philip Brumley, aweerereza ku kitebe kyaffe ekikulu, n’Ow’oluganda Valter Farneti, eyali aweerereza mu Yitale, okusobozesa baganda baffe mu Cuba, omulimu gwaffe gye gwali gukugirwa ennyo, okuba n’eddembe erisingawo ery’okusinza. Nnawandiikira ekitebe kya Cuba eky’omu Bubirigi oluvannyuma ne nsisinkana omukungu omu eyali alondeddwa okukola ku nsonga zaffe. Mu nsisinkano ezaasooka tetwasobola kugonjoola nsonga eyali eviiriddeko gavumenti okukugira omulimu gwaffe.

Oluvannyuma lw’okutuukirira Yakuwa mu kusaba, twasaba olukusa okutwala Bayibuli 500 mu Cuba era ne tukkirizibwa. Olw’okuba Bayibuli ezo zaatuuka bulungi era ne ziweebwa ab’oluganda, twakiraba nti Yakuwa yali awa omukisa okufuba kwaffe. Oluvannyuma twasaba olukusa tuweerezeeyo Bayibuli endala 27,500, era twakkirizibwa. Nnafuna essanyu lingi nnyo olw’okuyambako bakkiriza bannaffe mu Cuba okufuna Bayibuli.

Nnagenda mu Cuba emirundi mingi okuyambako mu by’amateeka omulimu gwaffe gusobole okuba nga gutambula bulungi. Ekyo kyansobozesa okussaawo enkolagana ennungi wakati waffe n’abakungu ba gavumenti bangi.

Mu 1994 abantu abasukka mu 800,000 baafiira mu kittabantu ekyali e Rwanda. Eky’ennaku abamu ku bakkiriza bannaffe nabo baafiira mu kittabantu ekyo. Mangu ddala, nze awamu n’abalala twasabibwa okutwalira bakkiriza bannaffe e Rwanda obuyambi.

Bwe twatuuka e Kigali, ekibuga ekikulu ekya Rwanda, twasanga ekizimbe ekyali kikolerwamu omulimu gw’okuvvuunula n’ekyo ekyali kiterekebwamu ebitabo nga bijjudde ebituli by’amasasi. Twawulira ebintu bingi ebinakuwaza ebyali bikwata ku bakkiriza bannaffe abattibwa nga batemebwa bijambiya. Naye era twawulira n’ebyo ebikwata ku ngeri bakkiriza bannaffe gye baalagamu bannaabwe okwagala. Ng’ekyokulabirako, twasisinkana ow’oluganda Omutuusi ab’oluganda Abahutu gwe baali baakweka mu kinnya okumala ennaku 28. Mu lukuŋŋaana olwali mu Kigali, twabudaabuda era ne tuzzaamu bakkiriza bannaffe amaanyi mu by’omwoyo abaali basukka mu 900.

Oluvannyuma twasala ensalo ne tugenda mu Zaire (kati emanyiddwa nga Democratic Republic of the Congo) okunoonya Abajulirwa ba Yakuwa abangi ab’omu Rwanda abaali baddukidde mu nkambi z’abanoonyi b’obubudamu okumpi n’ekibuga Goma. Olw’okuba twali tulemereddwa okubazuula, twasaba Yakuwa atuyambe tubazuule. Oluvannyuma twalaba omuntu omu eyali atambula ng’ajja gye tuli, era twamubuuza obanga yalina Omujulirwa wa Yakuwa yenna gwe yali amanyi. Yatuddamu nti, “Ndi Mujulirwa wa Yakuwa. Ka mbatwale eri akakiiko akakola ku kudduukirira abanoonyi b’obubudamu.” Oluvannyuma lw’okwogerako n’abo abaali ku kakiiko ako, twasisinkana ab’oluganda nga 1,600 ne tubazzaamu amaanyi era ne tubabudaabuda. Ate era twabasomera ebbaluwa eyali evudde ku Kakiiko Akafuzi. Ab’oluganda baakwatibwako nnyo olw’ebimu ku bigambo bino ebyali mu bbaluwa eyo: “Bulijjo tubasabira. Tukimanyi nti Yakuwa tasobola kubaabulira.” Ddala ebigambo ebyo ebyava eri Akakiiko Akafuzi byali bituufu, kubanga leero e Rwanda eriyo Abajulirwa ba Yakuwa abasukka mu 30,000!

Kya nnaku nti mukyala wange Elly gwe nnali njagala ennyo yanfaako mu 2011, era twali tumaze emyaka nga 58 mu bufumbo. Nnasaba Yakuwa ne mmutegeeza obulumi bwe nnalina era yambudaabuda. Ate era okubuulirako abalala amawulire amalungi nakyo kyambudaabuda.

Wadde nga kati nti mu myaka 90, nkyenyigira mu mulimu gw’okubuulira buli wiiki. Ate mpulira essanyu lingi okuyambako mu kitongole ekikola ku by’amateeka wano ku ofiisi y’ettabi ly’omu Bubirigi, okubuulirako abalala ku bintu bye mpiseemu, n’okuzzaamu Ababeseri abakyali abato amaanyi.

Emyaka nga 84 emabega, Nnasaba Yakuwa essaala yange eyasooka. Eyo ye yali entandikwa y’olugendo olulungi olunsobozesezza okumusemberera. Nsiima nnyo okuba nti mu bulamu bwange bwonna, Yakuwa abadde awuliriza essaala zange.—Zab. 66:19. b