Paul: Mu Noovemba 1985 twasindikibwa okuweereza ng’abaminsani mu Liberia ensi esangibwa mu bugwanjuba bwa Afirika era twali basanyufu nnyo. Ennyonyi gye twalinnya yayimirira mu Senegal. Anne yagamba nti: “Mu ssaawa ng’emu tujja kuba tutuuse mu Liberia.” Tuba tukyali awo ne tuwulira ekirango ekigamba nti: “Abasaabaze abagenda mu Liberia muveemu. Olw’okuba mu Liberia babadde bagezaako okuwamba gavumenti, tetujja kusobola kutuukayo.” Ennaku ekkumi ezzadirira twazimala mu Senegal nga tubeera wamu n’abaminsani nga tuwuliriza amawulire agaali gava mu Liberia. Gaali googera ku loole ezaalinga zisomba emirambo era nga galaga nti abantu baali tebakkirizibwa kuva mu maka gaabwe mu biseera eby’akawungeezi, era nti abaajeemeranga ekiragiro ekyo baakubibwanga amasasi.

Anne: Tuli bantu abeegendereza ennyo. Mu butuufu okuva mu buto bwange baalinga bampita Annie omutiitiizi. Ntya nnyo ne kiba nti n’okusala obusazi oluguudo kintiisa. Naye twali tumaliridde okugenda mu nsi gye twali tusindikiddwa okuweereza.

Paul: Nze ne Anne twakulira mu kitundu kye kimu mu bugwanjuba bwa Bungereza. Olw’okuba bazadde bange ne maama wa Anne baatukubirizanga okuweereza nga bapayoniya, twatandika okuweereza nga bapayoniya nga twakamalako siniya. Bazadde baffe baasanyuka nnyo okuba nti twali twagala okuyingira mu buweereza obw’ekiseera kyonna. Bwe nnali wa mwaka 19, nnafuna enkizo ey’okuweereza ku Beseri era Anne yanneegattako oluvannyuma lw’okufumbiriganwa mu 1982.

Anne: Twali tunyumirwa nnyo okuweereza ku Beseri, naye okuva edda twali twagala okuweereza awali obwetaavu obusingawo. Okukolerako awamu n’ab’oluganda ku Beseri abaali baaweerezaako ng’abaminsani kyatuleetera okweyongera okwagala okuweereza ng’abaminsani. Ekyo twakitegeezanga Yakuwa mu kusaba buli kiro okumala emyaka esatu, era bwe kityo twasanyuka nnyo bwe twayitibwa okugenda mu ssomero lya Gireyaadi ery’omulundi ogwa 79 mu 1985. Oluvannyuma lw’okumaliriza emisomo, twasindikibwa kuweerereza mu Liberia mu bugwanjuba bwa Afirika.

Paul: Twalinnya ennyonyi eyasooka okukkirizibwa okugenda mu Liberia. Mu Liberia embeera yali ya bunkenke nnyo era abantu baali tebakkirizibwa kuva waka mu biseera eby’akawungeezi. Abantu mu katale okuwulira obuwulizi ng’emmotoka evuuma, kyabaleeteranga okubuna emiwabo. Okusobola okusigala nga tuli bakkakkamu twasomeranga wamu Zabbuli buli kiro. Naye twali twagala  nnyo obuweereza bwaffe. Buli lunaku Anne yabeeranga mu kubuulira ate nze nnakolanga ku Beseri nga nkolera wamu n’ow’Oluganda John Charuk. a Nnamuyigirako ebintu bingi kubanga yalina obumannyirivu bungi, era yali ategeera bulungi embeera ya bakkiriza bannaffe mu Liberia.

Anne: Lwaki twayanguwa okwagala Liberia? Bakkiriza bannaffe be baatuleetera okwanguwa okugyagala ennyo. Baalina okwagala kungi, nga banguwa okukola emikwano, era baali beesigwa. Twafuna omukwano ogw’oku lusegere nabo era baalinga ab’eŋŋanda zaffe. Amagezi ge baatuwanga gaatuyamba okunywera mu by’omwoyo. Omulimu gw’okubuulira gwali gunyuma nnyo. Bwe wabuuliranga abantu n’omala nabo akaseera katono, baanyiiganga. Abantu baakubaganyanga ebirowoozo ku byawandiikibwa ku nguudo. Kyatubeereranga kyangu okwenyigira mu kukubaganya ebirowoozo okwo. Twalina abayizi ba Bayibuli bangi nnyo ne kiba nti kyali kizibu bonna okubayigiriza. Mu butuufu twanyumirwa nnyo.

Paul: Oluvannyuma lw’okumala emyaka ena nga waliwo emirembe emisaamusaamu, mu 1989 embeera yakyuka mu bwangu. Waabalukawo olutalo mu Liberia. Nga Jjulaayi 2, 1990, abayeekera baawamba ekitundu ekyali kyetoolodde Beseri. Okumala emyezi essatu twali tetuwuliziganya na bantu mu nsi ndala, omwali ab’omu maka gaffe n’ab’oluganda ku kitebe kyaffe ekikulu. Ebikolwa eby’obukambwe, obusambattuko, enjala, n’okukwata abakazi bye byali buli wamu. Embeera eyo enzibu yamala emyaka 14 era yali mu nsi ya Liberia yonna.

Anne: Abantu ab’eggwanga erimu battanga abantu ab’eggwanga eddala. Abalwanyi abaalinga beebagalidde eby’okulwanyisa era nga bambadde engoye ezitategeerekeka, baatambulanga wonna ku nguudo era baanyaganga ebintu mu buli kizimbe. Eri abamu, okutta abantu baali bakitwala ng’okutta enkoko. Ku nguudo kwabangako ebifo bye baateekawo okwaza abantu, era kumpi n’ebifo ebyo waabangawo entuumu z’emirambo. Ekimu ku bifo ebyo kyali kumpi ne Beseri. Abaweereza ba Yakuwa abeesigwa battibwa omwali n’abaminsani babiri.

Abajulirwa ba Yakuwa bassa obulamu bwabwe mu kabi ne bakweka bannaabwe ab’eggwanga eddala abaalinga banoonyezebwa okuttibwa. Abaminsani n’aba Beseri nabo baakola kye kimu. Abamu ku baweereza ba Yakuwa abaali baddukidde ku Beseri baasulanga ku mwaliiro ogusooka ate abalala baasulanga naffe ku myaliiro ejja waggulu. Ffe mu kisenge kyaffe twasuzanga abantu abalala musanvu.

Paul: Buli lunaku abalwanyi baagezangako okuyingira mu Beseri okulaba obanga tulina abantu be twali tukwese. Twassaawo abantu bana okulabiriza. Ababiri baalabirizanga bali mu ddirisa ate abalala baayimiriranga ku ggeeti. Abo abaali ku ggeeti bwe bassanga emikono gyabwe mu maaso kyabanga kitegeeza nti embeera si mbi,  naye bwe baagiteekanga emabega kyabanga kitegeeza nti abalwanyi baali bakambwe nnyo era nga basunguwavu. Bwe kityo, mangu ddala abo abaabanga mu ddirisa baakwekanga bannaffe.

Anne: Nga wayiseewo wiiki nnyingi, ekibinja ekimu eky’abalwanyi abaali abakambwe ennyo baayingira mu Beseri ku kifuba. Nze ne muganda wange omu twesibira mu kinaabiro, era mu kinaabiro mwalimu kabada eyalimu akafo omuntu mwe yali ayinza okwekweka. Muganda wange oyo yeenyiga mu kafo ako. Abalwanyi abo baali bazze bangoberera nga nninnya amadaala era baali bakutte emmundu. Bajja nga basunguwavu ne bakonkona nnyo oluggi lw’ekinaabiro. Paul yagezaako okubalemesa okuyingira n’abagamba nti: “Ekinaabiro mukyala wange aky’akikozesa.” Bwe nnali nzigalawo akaggi ka kabada muganda wange mwe yali yeekwese, kaaleekaana. Oluvannyuma nnatandika okuzzaayo ebintu mu masa ga kabada era ekyo ky’atwala akaseera. Muli nnalowooza nti kati abalwanyi beebuuza kye nkola. Nnatya nnyo era ne ntandika okukankana ennyo. Muli nneebuuza engeri gye nnali nnyinza okuggulawo oluggi. Bye kityo nnasaba Yakuwa mu kasirise annyambe. Oluvannyuma nnaggulawo oluggi era ne mbabuuza nga ndi mukkakkamu. Omu ku balwanyi yansindika eri n’ayitawo n’agenda butereevu ku kabada n’agiggulawo n’atandika okwaza amasa. Yeewuunya nnyo okuba nti talina kye yasangamu. Oluvannyuma ye ne banne baafuluma mu kisenge kyaffe ne bagenda ne baaza ebisenge ebirala era ne baaza ne mu kasolya. Nayo tebalina muntu gwe baasangayo.

Paul: Okumala emyezi mingi twalina emmere ntono ddala, naye emmere ey’eby’omwoyo yatuyamba okweyongera okubaawo nga tuli balamu. Twagenda mu maaso n’enteekateeka ya Beseri ey’okukubaganyanga ebirowoozo ku byawandiikibwa buli ku makya era tetwalyanga kya nkya. Ekyo ky’atuwanga amaanyi okusobola okugumira embeera buli lunaku.

Twali tukimanyi nti emmere n’amazzi bwe byandiggweereddeewo ddala, ne kituwaliriza ffe awamu n’abalala okuva ku Beseri, abaali bazze okwekweka bandibadde battibwa. Emirundi mingi Yakuwa yatuwanga bye twalinga twetaaga mu kiseera kyennyini ekituufu era mu ngeri eyeewuunyisa. Yakuwa yakola ku byetaago byaffe era yatuyamba okusigala nga tuli bakkakkamu.

Ensi gye yakoma okukwata ekizikiza, ekitangaala eky’amazima gye kyakoma okwaka. Emirundi mingi bakkiriza bannaffe baalinanga okudduka okusobola okutaasa obulamu bwabwe, naye okukkiriza kwabwe kwasigala kunywevu era baasigala bakkakkamu. Abamu baagamba nti okuyita mu lutalo olwo kyali “kibatendeka okuyita mu kibonyoobonyo ekinene.” Abakadde n’ab’oluganda abavubuka baayoleka obuvumu ne bakola kyonna kye baali basobola okuyamba bakkiriza bannaabwe. Bakkiriza bannaffe abaddukira mu bitundu ebirala baayambagananga era baatandika okubuulira mu bitundu ebyo. Baagendanga mu kibira ne bafuna ebintu bye baalinga basobola okukozesa okuzimba ebifo eby’okukuŋŋaaniramu basobole okuba n’enkuŋŋaana. Mu kiseera ekyo ng’abantu baweddemu essuubi, enkuŋŋaana zazzangamu nnyo ab’oluganda amaanyi era okubuulira kwabayamba okugumira embeera eyo eyali enzibu. Bwe twabanga tuwa ab’oluganda obuyambi, twakwatibwangako nnyo bwe baatusabanga ensawo ez’okubuulira mu kifo ky’okutusaba engoye. Abantu abaali abanakuwavu ennyo era nga bali mu kutya okw’amaanyi baawulirizanga amawulire amalungi.  Kyabeewuunyisanga nnyo okulaba ng’Abajulirwa ba Yakuwa basanyufu era nga bagumu. Mu butuufu baalinga ekitangaala ekimulisa mu kizikiza. (Mat. 5:​14-16) Olw’okuba ab’oluganda baali banyiikivu mu kubuulira, kyaviirako n’abamu ku balwanyi okufuuka abaweereza ba Yakuwa.

Paul: Waliwo ebiseera lwe twabanga tulina okuva mu Liberia. Emirundi esatu twavaamu okumala ekiseera kitono ate emirundu ebiri twavaamu okumala omwaka mulamba. Mwannyinaffe omu omuminsani yannyonnyola bulungi engeri gye twawulirangamu nga tuva mu Liberia. Yagamba nti: “Mu Gireyaadi twayigirizibwa okussa omutima gwaffe mu buweereza bwaffe era ekyo twakikola. N’olwekyo okuleka baganda baffe nga bali mu mbeera eyo enzibu, kyalinga okutukuulamu omutima.” Ekirungi twali tusobola okuyamba bakkiriza bannaffe mu Liberia n’okuwagira omulimu gw’okubuulira nga tusinziira mu nsi ezaali zigyetoolodde.

Anne: Mu Maayi 1996, bana ku ffe twalinnya emmotoka ya Beseri eyalimu ebiwandiiko ebikulu ebyali bikwata ku mulimu gwaffe mu Liberia. Twali twagala kugenda mu kitundu ekyali kyesudde mayiro 10 ekitaali kya bulabe nnyo. Kyokka mangu ddala ekitundu kyaffe kyalumbibwa. Abalwanyi abaali abakambwe baakuba amasasi mu bbanga, ne bayimiriza emmotoka yaffe era ne basikayo basatu ku ffe, era ne bavuga emmotoka ne bagenda nga Paul mw’ali. Twayimirira awo nga tutangaaliridde. Naye tuba tukyali awo ne tulengera Paul ng’ali mu bantu ajja atambula era ng’omusaayi gutiirika mu kyenyi. Olw’okuba twali tusobeddwa, twalowooza nti yali akubiddwa essasi. Naye si bwe kyali kubanga yali akyatambula! Omulwanyi omu yali amukubye n’amuleetako ekisago bwe yali amuggya mu mmotoka. Ekirungi, ekiwundu tekyali kya maanyi.

Okumpi awo waaliwo emmotoka y’abasirikale eyali ejjudde abantu abaali balabika nga batidde nnyo. Twagenda ne twelippa ku mmotoka eyo. Omuvuzi waayo yagisimbula n’avuga ku sipiidi ey’amaanyi ennyo, era kaabula kata tuveeko tugwe. Twamusaba ayimirire, naye olw’okuba yali atidde nnyo teyawuliriza. Tweyongera okwenyweza era we twatuukira emmotoka eyo gye yali eraga, twali tukooye nnyo era nga tukankana olw’okutya.

Paul: Twatunuuliragana nga ffenna tujonjobadde era twali tetukikkiriza nti tukyali balamu. Twasula wabweru okumpi n’ennyonyi ya nnamunkanga eyalimu ebituli by’amasasi era ye yali ey’okututwala mu Sierra Leone enkeera. Twali basanyufu okuba nti twali tukyali balamu naye twali tweraliikirira bakkiriza bannaffe.

Anne: Twatuuka bulungi mu Freetown ku Beseri y’omu Sierra Leone, era bakkiriza bannaffe baatulabirira bulungi. Naye mangu ddala nnatandika okujjukira ebintu bye twali tuyiseemu. Buli lunaku nnabeeranga mu kutya nga ndowooza nti ekintu ekibi ennyo kigenda kututuukako, era nnalinga sisobola kulowooza bulungi. Buli kimu ekyali kinneetoolodde kyalabika ng’ekitaali kya ddala. Ekiro nnagugumukanga nga ntuuyanye nnyo era nga nkankana. Nnalinga ntya nti waliwo ekintu ekibi ekyali kigenda okubaawo era nnazibuwalirwanga okussa. Paul yampambaatiranga era ne tusabira wamu. Twayimbiranga wamu ennyimba z’Obwakabaka okutuusa lwe nnalekeranga awo okukankana. Nnali ndowooza nti nnali ŋŋenda kutabuka omutwe era nti nnali ŋŋenda kulekera awo okuweereza ng’omuminsani.

Ekyaddako sirikyerabira. Mu wiiki eyo yennyini, twafuna magazini za mirundi ebiri. Emu yali Awake! eya Jjuuni 8, 1996. Yalimu ekitundu, “Kiki ky’Oyinza Okukola Okutya Bwe Kuba nga Kukusukkiriddeko” (“Coping With Panic Attacks).” Ekitundu ekyo kyannyamba okutegeera embeera gye nnali mpitamu. Magazini ey’okubiri, yali Watchtower eya Maayi 15, 1996, eyalimu ekitundu ekigamba nti, “Biggya Wa Amaanyi?” (“Where Do They Get Their Strength?”) Magazini eyo yalimu ekifaananyi ky’ekiwojjolo ekyali kifunye obuzibu ng’ekiwaawaatiro kyakyo ekimu kya kitundu. Ekitundu ekyo kyalaga nti ng’ekiwojjolo bwe kisobola okweyongera okulya n’okubuuka wadde ng’ebiwaawaatiro byakyo bisigadde bya kitundu, naffe omwoyo gwa Yakuwa gusobola okutuyamba okweyongera okuyamba abalala wadde nga tuwulira nti tunafuye olw’ebintu ebibi ennyo ebiba bitutuuseeko. Eyo yali mmere Yakuwa gye yatuwa mu kiseera kyennyini ekituufu eyatuyamba okuddamu amaanyi. (Mat. 24:45) Nnanoonyereza ne nfuna ebitundu ebirala ebyogera ku kizibu kyange ne mbissa wamu, era byannyamba nnyo. Oluvannyuma lw’ekiseera, embeera yange yagenda etereera.

Paul: Buli lwe twaddangayo eka mu Liberia, twafunanga essanyu lingi nnyo. Omwaka gwa 2004 we gwaggweerako, twali tumaze emyaka nga 20 nga tuweereza mu Liberia. Olutalo lwali luwedde era enteekateeka zaali zikolebwa okuzimba ebizimbe ebirala ku Beseri. Naye nga tetukisuubira, twasabibwa okugenda okuweereza mu nsi endala.

 Ekyo kyali kigezo kya maanyi nnyo. Twali twagala nnyo bakkiriza bannaffe era twali tetwagala kubaleka. Naye olw’okuba twali tulabye engeri Yakuwa gye yatuyambamu nga tulese ab’eŋŋanda zaffe ne tugenda mu Gireyaadi, twakkiriza okugenda mu Ghana gye twali tusindikiddwa okuweerereza.

Anne: Bwe twali tuva mu Liberia, twakaaba nnyo. Twewuunya nnyo ow’oluganda Frank, eyali akuze mu myaka bwe yatugamba nti: “Mulina okutwerabira!” Oluvannyuma yannyonnyola kye yali ategeeza. Yagamba nti: “Tukimanyi nti temusobola kutwerabira, naye omutima gwammwe mugusse ku buweereza obupya gye mugenze. Yakuwa y’abasindise mu buweereza obwo, n’olwekyo mufeeyo ku bakkiriza bannammwe abali eyo.” Ekyo ow’oluganda kye yayogera kyatuyamba okukola emikwano mu nsi omutaali bangi batumanyi era nga buli kimu kipya gye tuli.

Paul: Mangu ddala twafuna emikwano mu Ghana. Mu nsi eyo waaliyo Abajulirwa ba Yakuwa bangi nnyo! Tulina bingi bye twayigira ku bwesigwa bwa bakkiriza bannaffe abo ne ku kukkiriza kwabwe. Nga wayise emyaka 13 nga tuweerereza mu Ghana, twafuna amawulire agaatwewuunyisa ennyo. Twasabibwa okugenda okuweerereza ku ttabi lya East Africa mu Kenya. Wadde nga twasaalirwa nnyo okuleka mikwano gyaffe mu nsi ze twali tuweererezzaamu, mangu ddala twafuna emikwano emipya mu Kenya, era tukyaweerereza mu kitundu ekyo ekinene ennyo awali obwetaavu obw’amaanyi.

Anne: Emyaka bwe gizze giyitawo, mpise mu mbeera enzibu ennyo era ebiseera ebimu ezindeetedde okutya okw’amaanyi. Bwe tubeera mu bitundu eby’obulabe era ne tuyita mu mbeera enzibu ennyo, oluusi kituviirako okulwala era n’okuwulira okutya okw’amaanyi. Yakuwa taziyiza mbeera eyo kututuukako. Ne mu kiseera kino, bwe mpulira essasi nga livuga, olubuto lunnuma, emmeeme n’ensinduukirira, era emikono ne gisannyalala. Naye njize okukozesa obuyambi bwonna Yakuwa bw’atuwa okutuzzaamu amaanyi, gamba ng’obwo bw’atuwa okuyitira mu bakkiriza bannaffe. Ate era nkirabye nti bwe tunywerera ku nteekateeka yaffe ey’eby’omwoyo, Yakuwa atuyamba ne tusobola okusigala mu buweereza bwaffe.

Paul: Oluusi abantu abamu batubuuza nti, “Obuweereza bwammwe mubwagala?” Ensi zisobola okuba ennungi, naye embeera zisobola okwonooneka ekiseera kyonna era zisobola okuba ez’obulabe. N’olwekyo, kiki kye twagala okusinga ensi ezo? Be bakkiriza bannaffe ab’omuwendo. Wadde nga twakulira mu mbeera za njawulo, endowooza yaffe y’emu. Twali tulowooza nti twasindikibwa okubazzaamu maanyi, naye ekituufu kiri nti be batuzzizzaamu amaanyi.

Buli lwe tugenda mu kitundu ekirala, tulaba ekyamagero eky’omu kiseera kino, nga lwe luganda lwe tulina. Bwe tuba nga tukyali mu kibiina kya Yakuwa tuba tulina baganda baffe era tuba tuwulira nti tulina obukuumi. Tuli bakakafu nti bwe tuneeyongera okwesiga Yakuwa, ajja kutuwa amaanyi okusinziira ku bwetaavu bwaffe.—Baf. 4:13.