IUganda

KANGANGEENKULUNGWANE, abahloli bamazwe bebekhangela iliso ophuma kulo uMlambo iNile, osuka kumbindi weAfrika wenjenjeya ukuya kugalela kuLwandle lweMeditera. Ekugqibeleni, bambi kwabo bahloli bade bafumanisa ukuba la manzi aqukuqela unyaka wonke aphuma kwiLake Victoria nakwiintaba eziyingqongileyo. Kumashumi eminyaka yakutshanje, abemi balapho abaninzi baye bafumana umthombo wamanzi axabiseke ngakumbi—“amanzi aphilayo” anika “ubomi obungunaphakade.” (Yoh. 4:10-14) Le ke yimbali yabantu baseUganda ababesoloko ‘benxanelwe ubulungisa.’—Mat. 5:6.

“IPERILE YASEAFRIKA”

IUganda engxabalaze kwi-ikhweyitha kumbindi weAfrika, lilizwe elihle elinemozulu entle. Ngenxa yomkhenkce onyibilika kudederhu lweeNtaba zeRuwenzori—ezibizwa ngokuba ziiNtaba zeNyanga (Mountains of the Moon)—kukho amanzi aqukuqela aye kugaleleka kwimilambo namachibi alapho. Ukuchuma komhlaba nokuxhaphaka kwemvula kwenza iUganda ibe yindawo efanelekileyo yokulima ikofu, iti nomqhaphu. Eli lizwe lenile ziiplantain, ibhanana ephekwayo nedla ngokusetyenziswa xa kusenziwa imatooke, okunye kokutya okuthandwayo eUganda. Okunye ukutya kwalapha yicassava, umgubo wombona namazimba.

Kweli lizwe lenileyo kudakasa iingonyama, iindlovu, iimvubu, iingwenya, amahlosi, iindlulamthi neembabala, kwakunye neechimpanzee, uhlobo lweenkawu ezibangel’ umdla kunye neegorila ezihlala ezintabeni nezisemngciphekweni wokuphela. Kukho neentaka ezimibalabala ezitsho ngentsholo emnandi. Enyanisweni, zininzi izinto ezintle eUganda ezibangela ukuba kuthiwe ‘yiperile yaseAfrika.’

ABANTU ABATHANDEKAYO BASEUGANDA

IUganda inabemi abamalunga nezigidi ezingama-30 beentlanga ezahlukahlukeneyo ezimalunga nama-30. Abaninzi kubo bahamba iicawa ezahlukahlukeneyo; kodwa njengakwezinye iindawo unqulo baluxuba namasiko abo. Abantu baseUganda banobubele nomoya wokubuk’ iindwendwe, yaye yinto eqhelekileyo ukubona umntu eguqa xa ebulisa okanye enceda umntu omdala kunaye.

Kodwa ke, okubuhlungu kukuba ngeminyaka yee-1970 neyee-1980, le “perile” nabantu bayo abathandekayo yadlavuzwa zizidubedube zopolitiko ezashiya kufe amawaka abantu. Eyona nto yayenza mandundu ngakumbi le ntlungu yaseUganda nguGawulayo osagqugqisayo nangoku. Ngoko ke, amaNgqina kaYehova aye abathuthuzela aze abanika ithemba abantu balapho.

ABANTU BOKUQALA UKUSHUMAYELA APHO

Ingxelo yokuqala ekhoyo ngokushunyayelwa kweendaba ezilungileyo zoBukumkani eUganda yeyowe-1931, xa iofisi yesebe laseMzantsi Afrika yayisongamela umsebenzi wokushumayela kuyo yonke iAfrika ekumazantsi eikhweyitha. Ukuze kuqaliswe ukushunyayelwa kuloo mmandla mkhulu, eli sebe lathumela oovulindlela ababini, uRobert Nisbet noDavid Norman, ukuba baye kushumayela kuloo mmandla ngoku obizwa ngokuba yiKenya, iUganda neTanzania.

UMzalwan’ uNisbet noMzalwan’ uNorman babezimisele ukuya kushumayela iindaba ezilungileyo zoBukumkani kanye kumbindi weAfrika. Elo phulo labo baliqalisa eDar es Salaam ngoAgasti 31, 1931, bephethe iibhokisi ezingama-200 zeencwadi. Ukusuka apho basinga kwisiqithi saseZanzibar, baya kwizibuko laseMombasa baza badlulela kwimimandla esezintabeni yaseKenya. Behamba ngololiwe, babesehla kuzo zonke iidolophu abadlula kuzo bashumayele, de baya kufika kunxweme olusempuma lweLake Victoria. Ukusuka apho aba vulindlela babini bangapheli mandla banqumla kweli chibi ngesikhephe, baza bafika eKampala, ikomkhulu laseUganda. Emva kokuhambisa iincwadi ezininzi, kunye nemirhumo yephephancwadi iThe Golden Age, aba bazalwana bahamba ngemoto badlulela kweminye imimandla esembindini.

Ngowe-1935, kwiminyaka emine kamva, apho eMpuma Afrika kwafika abanye oovulindlela abane bevela eMzantsi Afrika. Aba yayinguGray Smith nomfazi wakhe uOlga, kunye noRobert Nisbet nomninawa wakhe uGeorge. Behamba ngeemoto ezimbini ezalungiswa zaba neendawo zokulala, aba vulindlela banenzondelelo bahamba kwezo ndlela zimbi benqumla kwingca ende eyayiphakame kangangeemitha ezintathu. Enye ingxelo ithi: “Babekhe balale emathafeni adakasa izilwanyana—iingonyama ezigqumayo ebusuku, amaqwarhashe agramza ingca, iindlulamthi, kuquka imikhombe neendlovu.” Bengoyiki, baya kwiidolophu ekwakungazange kushunyayelwe kuzo isigidimi soBukumkani.

UGray no-Olga Smith bachitha ixesha elithile eTanganyika (ngoku eyiTanzania), ngoxa uRobert noGeorge Nisbet baya eNairobi, eKenya. Kamva, xa abalawuli belo thanga bayalela abakwaSmith ukuba bemke eTanganyika, baya eKampala, eUganda. Noko ke, kwesi sihlandlo, izinto azizange zibahambele kakuhle, yaye babesoloko bebekwe esweni ngamapolisa aseKampala. Bengapheli mandla, abakwaSmith bahambisa iincwadi neencwadana ezingama-2 122 baza balungiselela iintlanganiso zasesidlangalaleni ezintandathu. Ekugqibeleni urhulumente wakhupha umyalelo wokuba baphume baphele kwelo. Baya eNairobi, besiya kudibana noonyana bakaNisbet, baza babuyela eMzantsi Afrika.

La maphulo okushumayela aphumelela kwaza kwanikelwa ubungqina ngendlela engathethekiyo ngenxa yentsikelelo kaYehova. Nakuba kwakukho inkcaso engathethekiyo yonqulo nokuphathwa kakubi ngabalawuli belo thanga, aba vulindlela bakwazi ukuhambisa iincwadi ezingaphezu kwama-3 000 neencwadana ezingaphezu kwama-7 000, ngaphandle kwemirhumo ababeyifumana. Emva kwala maphulo, kwaqengqeleka iminyaka ngaphambi kokuba kuphinde kubekho abantu abashumayela eUganda.

UMSEBENZI WOKUSHUMAYELA UYAQALA KWAKHONA

Ngo-Aprili 1950, isibini esiselula saseNgilani, uMzalwana noDade uKilminster seza kuhlala eKampala. Sashumayela iindaba ezilungileyo ngokuzimisela yaye savuya xa iintsapho ezimbini, enye eyayithetha isiGrike enye isiTaliyane, zisamkela isigidimi soBukumkani.

Kwathi ke ngoDisemba 1952, uMzalwan’ uKnorr noHenschel abavela kwikomkhulu lamaNgqina kaYehova eNew York, batyelela eNairobi, eKenya. UMzalwan’ uKilminster waqinisekisa ukuba akaphoswa lelo thuba lokuba kunye nabo, ngoko wenjenjeya ukuya eNairobi esuka eKampala. UMzalwan’ uKnorr noMzalwan’ uHenschel bakhuthaza iqela elincinane elalilapho baza balungiselela ukuba kusekwe ibandla eKampala. Kungekudala elo bandla litsha laba nemiphumo emihle, yaye laba nabavakalisi abalishumi abaqalisa intsimi kunyaka wenkonzo wowe-1954.

Kwakuloo nyaka, uEric Cooke owayevela kwiofisi yesebe elikuMzantsi Rhodesia (ngoku eyiZimbabwe), watyelela eMpuma Afrika waza wachitha ixesha elithile nelo bandla litsha laseKampala. Nangona abo bazalwana babesiza veki nganye kwisifundo seMboniselo, babengayi rhoqo entsimini. Ngoko uMzalwan’ uCooke wakhuthaza uMzalwan’ uKilminster ukuba aqhube zonke iintlanganiso zebandla, kuquka iNtlanganiso Yenkonzo veki nganye. Ukuze kwandiswe umsebenzi wokushumayela apho, uMzalwan’ uCooke wakhuthaza ukuba kushunyayelwe kwindlu ngendlu waza waqeqesha umvakalisi ngamnye.

Ukuza kuthi ga ngelo xesha, ubukhulu becala kwakushunyayelwa kubantu abamhlophe abahlala eUganda. Noko ke, uMzalwan’ uCooke waphawula ukuba inkoliso yabemi bomthonyama baseUganda abahlala eKampala babethetha isiLuganda. Wacebisa ukuba abazalwana baguqulele iimpapasho ngolo lwimi ukuze bafikelele iintliziyo zabantu balapho. Ngowe-1958 abavakalisi baqalisa ukusebenzisa incwadana eyayisandul’ ukuguqulelwa ethi “This Good News of the Kingdom.” Oko kwaba lukhuthazo ngokwenene kubazalwana. Umsebenzi wokushumayela watyhalela phambili, yaye ngowe-1961 kwabakho incopho entsha yabavakalisi boBukumkani abali-19 abaphuma intsimi.

Ngoxa wayephangela, uMzalwan’ uKilminster wadibana noGeorge Kadu, ummi waseUganda odlamkileyo nowayengaphezulu nje kancinane kweminyaka engama-40 ubudala owayesithetha kakuhle isiNgesi nolwimi lwakhe isiLuganda. Umdla kaGeorge kwiZibhalo wavuselelwa kukuva ukuba igama likaThixo nguYehova, waza waqalisa ukufunda iBhayibhile. Zange kube kudala wapheleka uMzalwan’ uKilminster emnceda ngokuguqulela iintshumayelo zakhe kwindlu ngendlu. Ngowe-1956, waba phakathi kwabantu bokuqala ababhaptizwa eUganda, kwiLake Victoria kufuphi ne-Entebbe.

Okubuhlungu kukuba, kungekudala emva koko abantu bayekelela umxakatho kumsebenzi wokushumayela ngoBukumkani. Abanye abazalwana ababevela kumazwe angaphandle bagoduka emva kokuphela kwezivumelwano zabo zengqesho. Imbinana yabazalwana yasuswa kubudlelane, yaye bambi bakhubeka ngenxa yezenzo zabathile ezingavumelaniyo neZibhalo. Noko ke, uMzalwan’ uKadu wayemthanda uYehova yaye wayesazi ukuba uyifumene inyaniso. Wabambelela enyanisweni “ngexesha elilungileyo nangexesha lenkathazo” waza wahlala engumdala othembekileyo de wafa ngowe-1998.—2 Tim. 4:2.

UKUKHONZA APHO KUFUNEKA ABAVAKALISI ABANGAKUMBI

Intsimi yaseMpuma Afrika yayinkulu gqitha, yaye kwakufuneka abavakalisi boBukumkani abangakumbi. Kwakukho nenye ingxaki ethile. Abalawuli bamathanga babengavumi ukuba abavangeli basemazweni bangene kwelo. Babeza kwenza ntoni?

Ngowe-1957 kwacelwa abavakalisi emhlabeni wonke ukuba baye kukhonza apho kufuneka abavakalisi abangakumbi. Abazalwana abaqolileyo ngokomoya bakhuthazwa ukuba bafudukele kwiindawo ezifuna abavakalisi boBukumkani abangakumbi. Esi simemo sasifana neso sendoda eyabonwa ngumpostile uPawulos embonweni imcela isithi: “Welela ngapha eMakedoni uze usincede.” (IZe. 16:9, 10) Eli khwelo laba naliphi igalelo kumsebenzi wokushumayela ngoBukumkani owenziwa eUganda?

UFrank noMary Smith ababenesimo sengqondo esifana nesikaIsaya, bathi bakuva esi simemo abaphozisa maseko, benza amalungiselelo okufudukela eMpuma Afrika.a (Isa. 6:8) NgoJulayi 1959 bangena kwinqanawa eyayisuka eNew York isiya eMombasa neyayiza kudlula eKapa. Emva koko bahamba ngololiwe baya eKampala, apho uFrank wasebenzela urhulumente njengesazi semichiza kwiGeological Survey Department. AbakwaSmith bafumana indawo yokuhlala e-Entebbe, malunga neekhilomitha ezingama-35 kumazantsi eKampala. Kwesi sixeko sihle sikunxweme lweLake Victoria zazingekashunyayelwa iindaba ezilungileyo zoBukumkani. Babesiya rhoqo kwiintlanganiso zebandla elincinane nelalikhula laseKampala.

Kungekudala abakwaSmith bafundisa uPeter Gyabi inyaniso, owayekwisikhundla esiphezulu kurhulumente waseUganda, kunye nomfazi wakhe uEsther. Ngaphambilana, uPeter wayefumene incwadi ethi What Has Religion Done for Mankind?b kodwa akayinanza kuba wayexakeke gqitha ngumsebenzi wakhe owawumsa ngapha nangapha. Kwathi kusenjalo wacelwa ukuba aye kulamla ingxabano eyayiphakathi kweentlanga ezimbini. Wathandaza esithi, “Thixo, ukuba ungandinceda, ndiza kukufuna.” Yathi yakucombululeka loo ngxabano, wawukhumbula umthandazo wakhe, waza waqalisa ukuyifunda loo ncwadi. Waqonda ukuba oko wayekufunda yinyaniso waza wakhangela amaNgqina. Wavuya gqitha xa wadibana noFrank Smith owavumayo ukubaqhubela isifundo seBhayibhile rhoqo yena nomfazi wakhe. Ngenxa yoko, esi sibini sichwayitileyo sabhaptizwa, yaye nangoku, emva kweminyaka engaphezu kwama-40 sikhonza ngokuthembekileyo, sisengabavakalisi boBukumkani abanenzondelelo.

Bakho nabanye abazalwana abasuka kumazwe angaphandle abasabelayo kwisimemo sokuya kukhonza kwiindawo ezifuna abavakalisi abangakumbi. Bambi kubo baqeshwa kwiindawo ezikude neBandla laseKampala elaliselincinane. Esinye isibini sasihlala eMbarara, idolophana ekwiinduli ezikumzantsi-ntshona weUganda, malunga neekhilomitha ezingama-300 ukusuka eKampala. ISifundo seMboniselo nesencwadi zaziqhutyelwa emzini wabo. Noko ke, ngamanye amaxesha babesiya eKampala okanye e-Entebbe ukuze babe kunye nabazalwana babo. Kwakhona babesoloko benxibelelana neofisi yesebe laseMntla Rhodesia (ngoku eyiZambia) eyayiseLuanshya, neyayisongamela umsebenzi wokushumayela ngoBukumkani kwiMpuma Afrika ngelo xesha. UHarry Arnott, owayesongamela elo sebe, ekwangumveleli wamasebe watyelela eKampala ukuze akhuthaze imbinana yabavakalisi baseUganda. Yabavuyisa gqitha indlela awayebaxhalabele ngayo.

Esinye isibini esasifuna ukukhonza apho kufuneka abavakalisi boBukumkani khona, yayinguTom noAnn Cooke abavela eNgilani. UTom wafuna umsebenzi kumazwe ahlukahlukeneyo waza waqashwa njengetitshala kwiSebe Lemfundo eUganda. Ekuqaleni kwafuneka ukuba yena noAnn nentombi yabo eneminyaka emine ubudala, uSarah, baye kwidolophu encinane yaseIganga, emalunga neekhilomitha ezili-130 kwimpuma yaseKampala ngenxa yomsebenzi. Emva kokuzalwa kukaRachel, intombi yabo yesibini, bafudukela eJinja, idolophu emi kwindawo eyaziwa njengomthombo weNile. Emva kwethuba elithile bafudukela eKampala.

UKUZINCAMA NOKUFUMANA IINTSIKELELO

Zonke ezi ntsapho zaba negalelo elikhulu kumsebenzi wokushumayela ngoBukumkani eUganda. Yinyaniso ukuba, baye bashiya ubomi obutofotofo ababebuqhelile. Ngoku babevuyiswa kukubona abantu abathobekileyo betshintsha ubomi babo yaye besamkela iindaba ezilungileyo zoBukumkani. Kwakhona baluvuyela umanyano lwamaKristu olwaluphakathi kweentsapho zabo neentsapho zalapho njengoko babehlanganisana kamnandi ukuze banqule uYehova.

UTom Cooke uthi: “Sasingayivali imilomo yimbeko yabantu esidibana nabo entsimini nendlela ababeziphatha ngesidima ngayo. Yayililungelo elikhetheke ngokwenene ukuba nenxaxheba encinane ekukhuleni kwebandla.”

Xa ebuzwa ngengendlela avakalelwa ngayo ngokuhlala kwabo apho, uTom uthi: “Ayikho enye indawo ebhetele esasinokukhulisela kuyo abantwana ukuze bakhonze uYehova. Sasikunye nabazalwana noodade abavela kumazwe amaninzi abangumzekelo, abazalwana basekuhlaleni abanothando nabanyanisekileyo, sifumana amalungelo amaninzi enkonzo, singaphenjelelwa ngumabonwakude ngoxa sasibona ubuhle beendawo ezisemaphandleni zaseAfrika. Ezi zezinye zeentsikelelo esiye sazifumana.”

Indlela ababekuxabise ngayo ukunxulumana namanye amaKristu abo bazalwana bavela kwamanye amazwe ibonakala kakuhle xa ucinga ngemigama emide ababeyihamba ukuze baye kwiindibano zesiphaluka eKenya. Kwakufuneka bahambe umgama oziikhilomitha ezingama-750 ukuya apho behamba ngebhasi okanye ngololiwe.

Iindibano zesithili zazifuna umgudu owongezelelekileyo. Ngokomzekelo, ngowe-1961 abazalwana baseUganda nabaseKenya baya kwindibano yesithili eKitwe, eMntla Rhodesia (eZambia). Omnye wabazalwana owayeye apho uthi: “Oko kwakuthetha ukuhamba iintsuku ezine kumgama ongangeekhilomitha ezili-1 600 kwiindlela ezimbi zaseTanganyika (eTanzania), nokuhamba ezinye iintsuku ezine kwiindlela ezisemagqagaleni ezinothuli nezigqats’ ubhobhoyi zaseAfrika xa sibuyela eUganda. Sasihamba kwiindlela eziyingozi kodwa sakuvuyela gqitha ukuba kunye nabazalwana noodadewethu.” Kwakunzima yaye kwakufuna umgudu omkhulu ukuhamba ezo ndlela, kodwa ekugqibeleni sasihlaziyeka ngokomoya.

ABATHUNYWA BEVANGELI BENZA UMSEBENZI OBALULEKILEYO

Ngowe-1962 iUganda yazimela-geqe kwiBritani. Kunyaka olandelayo uMzalwan’ uHenschel watyelela eNairobi, eKenya, waza wathetha ngokuthumela abathunywa bevangeli eUganda. Ngoobani ababeza kuya apho?

UTom noBethel McLain beklasi yama-37 yaseGiliyadi babesandul’ ukufika beze kukhonza eNairobi. Bothuka xa bethunyelwa eKampala. Kodwa basamkela ngezandl’ ezishushu eso sabelo yaye baba ngabathunywa bevangeli bokuqala abaqeqeshwe eGiliyadi abathunyelwa eUganda. UTom uthi: “Ekuqaleni sasiyikhumbula iKenya, kodwa kungekudala emva koko, sayithanda iUganda ngenxa yabantu abanobubele balapho nangendlela ababesabela ngayo kumsebenzi wokushumayela.”

UTom noBethel babefunda isiSwahili eKenya, kodwa ngoku kwafuneka bafunde ulwimi olutsha—isiLuganda. Babengenamntu ubafundisayo, kodwa babezimisele yaye bethembele kuYehova, besebenzisa nencwadi efundisa olo lwimi. Kwinyanga yokuqala beseUganda bachitha iiyure ezingama-250 befunda ulwimi olutsha, baza bachitha ezili-150 kwinyanga yesibini. Zonke ezi yure zingaphandle kweeyure ezili-100 ababezichitha entsimini. Ngokuthe ngcembe balwazi olo lwimi baza baba nemiphumo emihle entsimini.

NgoJanuwari 1964, kwafika uGilbert noJoan Walters ababephumelele kwiklasi yama-38 eGiliyadi beze kuncedisa uTom noBethel. Kukho nezinye izibini ezaziphumelele kwakuloo klasi, uStephen noBarbara Hardy, noRon noJenny Bicknell, zona ezazithunyelwe eBurundi, ilizwe elikufuphi, kodwa zaba nengxaki yokufumana iincwadi zokundwendwela (visa) kwelo zaza zathunyelwa eUganda. Kungekudala, kwafuneka kwakhiwe ikhaya labathunywa bevangeli eKampala.

Ibandla laseKampala lalingaphumi ezingqondweni. Kwelo bandla kwakukho uMzalwan’ uKadu nentsapho yakhe; uJohn noEunice Bwali, isibini esingoovulindlela abakhethekileyo saseMntla Rhodesia nabantwana baso; noMargaret Nyende nabantwana bakhe. Iintlanganiso zaziqhutyelwa esigangeni. UGilbert Walters uthi: “Abantu abadlulayo babeyibona yaye beyiva yonke into esiyenzayo, nangona sasimbalwa. Yintsapho yakwaBwali eyayikwazi ukuhlabela iingoma zoBukumkani ngaphandle kweteyiphu. Ezo ntlanganiso zazisomeleza gqitha kumsebenzi wethu.”

Kungekudala uGilbert noJoan Walters bacelwa ukuba baye kuvula ikhaya elitsha labathunywa bevangeli eJinja, indawo eyayingekabi nalo ilungiselelo lentsimi. Kamva kwavulwa amakhaya abathunywa bevangeli amabini—elinye laliseMbale, kufuphi nomda weKenya, elinye liseMbarara. Abathunywa bevangeli ababehlala kuloo makhaya babeshumayela noovulindlela abakhethekileyo abaninzi abasuka kwamanye amazwe. Intsimi ‘yayimhlophe ukuze kuvunwe.’ (Yoh. 4:35) Kodwa yintoni eyayinokwenziwa ukuze kukhawuleziswe oko kuvuna?

UKUPHUCULWA KWENDLELA YOKUSHUMAYELA

Abakhonzi bexesha elizeleyo eUganda babezimisele ukugubungela intsimi yabo enkulu ngendlela elungeleleneyo kangangoko kunokwenzeka. Ebudeni beveki, babeshumayela kwimizi enezitrato neenombolo. Kodwa babeza kukwazi njani ukugubungela intsimi enezindlu ezingenazitrato neenombolo?

UTom McLain uthi: “Sasiyahlulahlula ngokweenduli loo ntsimi. Ababini babeshumayela kwelinye icala lenduli ngoxa abanye besiya kwelinye. Sasishumayela kuyo yonke imizi ephambi kwethu de siye kudibana nelinye iqela.”

Kungekudala aba bazalwana basuka kwamanye amazwe bancedwa kukwanda kwamaNgqina angabemi baseUganda awayeyazi kakuhle loo ntsimi nezithethe zabantu balapho. Ngokomzekelo, eJinja, abazalwana baseUganda babehamba nabathunywa bevangeli entsimini. Kusasa ngeCawa babeqala ngokushumayela kwindlu ngendlu ngentsimbi yesibhozo ukusa kweyeshumi. Emva koko babechitha iyure besenza amabuyelo baze baye kuqhuba isifundo seBhayibhile de kube semini emaqanda. Ngale ndlela, bonke abasebandleni babencedana yaye bekhuthazana.

IJinja, idolophu eyayiyeyesibini ngobukhulu kwelo lizwe, yayineziko elaliphehla umbane ngamanzi, ibe ngenxa yoko yaba yindawo ephambili yemizi-mveliso. Abathunywa bevangeli babephumelela gqitha ekunikeleni ubungqina kwizikhululo zeeteksi neebhasi ezazinyakazela ngabantu. Abantu ababesuka kwiindawo ezikude babezamkela ngomdla iincwadi zeBhayibhile baze bazifunde xa begoduka. Ngaloo ndlela, imbewu yoBukumkani yasasazeka de yaya kufika nasezilalini.

Ukuze iindaba ezilungileyo zifikelele kubantu abaninzi kangangoko, abazalwana bashumayela nangesikhululo sikanomathotholo. Veki nganye babenenkqubo ethi “Izinto Ezicingwa Ngabantu.” Kuloo nkqubo kwakuye kuncokole “uMnu. Robbins” “noMnu. Lee” ngemibandela ebangel’ umdla njengothi, “Ukujamelana Neengxaki Zobomi Bentsapho” nothi “Indlela Yokuzikhusela Kulwaphulo-mthetho Nogonyamelo.” Omnye umzalwana uthi: “Kwakuyinto engaqhelekanga ukuva kuncokola umntu waseMerika nowaseScotland kwiziko likanomathotholo laseAfrika. Xa sisentsimini sasidla ngokuva abantu bethetha ngaloo nkqubo, nto leyo eyayibonisa ukuba yayiluncedo.”

UKUNCEDA ABAVAKALISI ABATSHA

Iqela labavakalisi baseJinja lalisiba neentlanganiso zalo kwiholo kawonke-wonke eseWalukuba. UTom Cooke uthi: “Abazalwana abaninzi babesebatsha enyanisweni yaye bengenazo iincwadi ezininzi zokulungiselela izabelo zabo.” Babeza kuncedwa njani?

UTom uthi: “Abathunywa bevangeli balungiselela ithala kwindlu yomnye umzalwana owayehlala kumbindi weWalukuba. Ngokuhlwa ngeMivulo abo banezabelo babesiya kwelo thala ukuze bancedwe ekulungiseleleni iintetho zabo.” Ngoku sekukho amabandla aliqela eJinja nasaqhubeka eloba iintlanzi zokomoya kulo mthombo weNile.

ABAVELELI ABAHAMBAHAMBAYO BANCEDA ABAZALWANA BAKHULE NGOKOMOYA

NgoSeptemba 1963, umsebenzi wokushumayela eUganda waba phantsi kwesebe laseKenya elalisandul’ ukusekwa, kwaza kwabelwa uWilliam noMuriel Nisbet ukuba batyelele iUganda njengenxalenye yesiphaluka sabo saseNairobi. Okubangel’ umdla kukuba, uWilliam wayehamba emanyathelweni abakhuluwa bakhe uRobert noGeorge, ababephakathi kwabantu bokuqala ukuya kushumayela eUganda malunga neminyaka engama-30 ngaphambili. Ngoku abavakalisi balapha babeza kuphinda baxhamle kumsebenzi “wabanye” ooNisbet.

Babesiya besanda abantu abanomdla, kusekwa amaqela angakumbi, zaye zisanda neendawo abafumaneka kuzo abavakalisi kuloo mmandla mkhulu. Ngokumane betyelela apho abaveleli abahambahambayo banceda ekuqeqesheni nasekukhuthazeni abazalwana noodade abakwiindawo ezikwanti, bebaqinisekisa ukuba “amehlo kaYehova aphezu kwabo bangamalungisa.”—1 Pet. 3:12.

Ngowe-1965, uStephen noBarbara Hardy babetyelela amabandla esiphaluka esasisuka eUganda siye kutsho eSeychelles, iqela leziqithi ezikuLwandlekazi lwaseIndiya, malunga neekhilomitha ezingama-2 600 ukusuka eUganda. Ngaxa lithile, bakha “behla benyuka” eUganda bekhangela indawo ababeza kufumana imiphumo emihle kuyo oovulindlela. Isebe laseKenya lababoleka iKhombi yakwaVolkswagen ababeza kuhamba ngayo baze bahlale kwakuyo. Bayikhenketha phantse yonke iUganda ngeeveki ezintandathu nje kuphela, batyelela eMasaka, eMbarara, eKabale, eMasindi, eHoima, eFort Portal, eArua, eGulu, eLira, naseSoroti.

UMzalwan’ uHardy uthi: “Olo hambo kunye nokushumayela kwakuchulumancisa ngokwenene. Wonk’ umntu, kuquka abasemagunyeni kwezo ndawo babeluncedo yaye benobubele. Kangangezihlandlo ezininzi, sasithi xa singene emzini ukuze sithethe nomninimzi, suke kuthi mome ngabamelwane nabantu abadlulayo beze kuphulaphula, ngokungathi sinikela ‘intetho yesidlangalala.’ Naxa simise kwanti nje ukuze siphumle, kwakukhawuleza kuthi wayiwayi ngabantu abazele luncumo, becinga ukuba siziindwendwe zabo. Iincwadi zethu zakhawuleza zaphela. Sahambisa iincwadi ezimalunga nama-500 saza safumana nentaphane yemirhumo yeMboniselo noVukani!”

Ububele, ukuthand’ ukwazi nokuba nomdla kwizinto zokomoya kwabantu baseUganda kwakusinika ithemba lokuba abantu balapho babeza kuyamkela inyaniso. Okona kubaluleke ngakumbi kukuba abakwaHardy bavuyiswa gqitha kukubona indlela uYehova awayewusikelela ngayo umsebenzi wokushumayela kuloo ntsimi ivundileyo.

UYEHOVA UYAKHULISA

Esona siganeko singalibalekileyo kwimbali yabantu bakaYehova eUganda senzeka ngoAgasti, 12, 1965, xa kwabhaliswa ngokusemthethweni i-International Bible Students Association, kusamkelwa ngokusemthethweni umsebenzi wethu wokwenza abafundi apho. Abemi baseUganda abaneentliziyo ezinyanisekileyo—njengoGeorge Mayende, uPeter noEsther Gyabi kunye noIda Ssali—baba yintsika yamaNgqina awayekhaliphile kwiminyaka ye-1960. Ngowe-1969, iUganda yathumela ingxelo yabavakalisi abangama-75 ababethe saa phakathi kwabemi balapho ababemalunga nezigidi ezisibhozo, umlinganiselo weNgqina elinye kubantu abangaphezu kwamakhulu amahlanu amawaka. Ngowe-1970, elo nani landa laya kutsho kubavakalisi boBukumkani abangama-97, laza laya kutsho kwabali-128 ngowe-1971. Ngowe-1972 kwakukho amaNgqina kaYehova akhutheleyo ali-162 eUganda.

Nakuba kwakukho ulwando olungako, abazalwana babesazi ukuba alubangelwa kukuba baninzi kwabo, kodwa ‘nguThixo okhulisayo.’ (1 Kor. 3:7) Into ababengayazi kukuba iminyaka ye-1970 yayiza kuyitshintsha yonke loo meko luze ukholo lwabo luvavanywe ngamandla. Emva kobhukuqo lomkhosi olwalukhokelwa nguNjengele Idi Amin ngowe-1971, kwaqalisa ulawulo lobuzwilakhe, lwatsho lwaphela tu uzinzo, kwaza kwabulawa amawaka abantu. Kwathi gqolo kuvuka ungquzulwano phakathi kukarhulumente nabo babengamfuni. Kwakusoloko kuvalwa imida eya kumazwe aselumelwaneni. Kwakumiselwa amaxesha okuba wonk’ umntu abe sendlwini. Abantu baqalisa ukumana benyamalala. Bambi babebekw’ esweni. Abazalwana noodadewethu abathanda uxolo baseUganda babeza kujamelana njani nezo nguqu, ukugrogriswa nogonyamelo?

NGABA “LULAWULO LUKATHIXO” OKANYE LOMNTU?

Kanye ngelo xesha, kwakusenziwa amalungiselelo okusingatha iNdibano YeSithili ‘Yolawulo LukaThixo’ yowe-1972 eKampala, indibano yokuqala enjalo eUganda. Kwakuza kufika iindwendwe ezivela eKenya, eTanzania, nase-Ethiopia emgama apho. Zaziza kuyithini loo meko yayiqatsela yokujamelana ngezikhondo zamehlo, ungquzulwano lwezopolitiko, ubuhlanga nentlungu yokunqumla imida? Ngaba loo ndibano yayimele irhoxiswe? Abazalwana bayithandazela ngokuzingisileyo loo meko, becela ulwalathiso lukaYehova kumalungiselelo abo nangokuphathelele ezo ndwendwe zazisiza apho.

Le meko yabonakala iyingozi ngakumbi kuba zathi xa ezo ndwendwe zingena kwimida yelo lizwe zabe ziphambana nemiqodi yabantu eyayiphuma kwelo. Inkoliso yabo yayigxothwa ngurhulumente owayengafuni bonke abantu abaziinzalelwane zaseAsia ababehlala apho—ingakumbi abaseIndiya nabasePakistan. Abantu abaninzi, njengootitshala ababevela kwamanye amazwe, babelishiya elo ngenxa yokoyikela ukuba kusenokugxothwa nezinye iintlanga. Phezu kwayo yonke loo meko, iindwendwe ezazize kuloo ndibano zaqhubeka zingena. Zaziza kufika kunjani kweso sixeko sinemeko engazinzanga yezopolitiko?

Zothuswa kukufika kukho inzolo eKampala, abazalwana nabantu abanomdla belindele ukufika kweendwendwe zabo ngovuyo kwindawo eyayiza kuba nendibano. Zamangaliswa nakukufumanisa ukuba abasemagunyeni bavuma ukuba kuxhonywe ibhodi enkulu kwesona sitrato sixakekileyo eKampala ibhengeza umhla nendawo yendibano. Kanye ngelo xesha lesiphithiphithi esingazange sibonwe, kuloo bhodi kwakubhalwe lo mxholo wentetho yesidlangalala ngamagama amakhulu: “ULawulo LukaThixo—Ekuphela Kwethemba Lalo Lonke Uluntu”!

Indibano yaqhubeka kakuhle ngaphandle kweziphazamiso, yaye kwakukho abantu abangama-937, nto leyo eyabangela ukuba eso siganeko sibe yimbali yonqulo olunyulu eUganda. Noko ke, nakuba zathi xa zigoduka iindwendwe zafumana amagingxigingxi athile emideni, zange ziphele mandla yaye zonke zafika zikhuselekile emakhaya. Kuzo zonke ezo ziphithiphithi zezopolitiko, abantu bakaYehova bakubonisa ngesibindi ukunyaniseka kwabo kuMlawuli onguMongami wabo. Kanye ngelo xesha lobunzima, uThixo ‘wabakhaliphisa ngamandla’ abantu bakhe.—INdu. 138:3.

Kubemi baseUganda ababekuloo ndibano yaba nguGeorge noGertrude Ochola. UGertrude uthi: “Leyo yayiyindibano yam yokuqala, ibe ndabhaptizwa kuyo!” Noko ke, yena uGeorge wayengekabililo iNgqina. Wayengumlandeli ophambili webhola ekhatywayo yaye leyo yeyona nto wayedla ngokuyiyela kwelo bala. Kodwa ke ngenxa yehambo entle yomfazi wakhe nokufundisisa kwakhe iBhayibhile, wafuzisela ukuzahlulela kwakhe ngokubhaptizwa emanzini eKenya ngowe-1975.

UGertrude ukhumbula ukuba waba phakathi kwabantu bokuqala ukuva inyaniso kumantla eUganda. Uthi: “Ukubhaptizwa kwam, ngowe-1972 ndandicinga ukuba ndihlala kwanti. Ngoku sineHolo yoBukumkani, ikhaya labathunywa bevangeli neofisi yabaguquleli. Oku kubangela ukuba ndivuye ngakumbi kunaxa ndandibhaptizwa!”

‘IXESHA LENKATHAZO’

Kungakhange kukhutshwe nasinye isilumkiso, ngoJuni 8, 1973 amajelo osasazo abhengeza ukuvalwa umlomo kwamaqela onqulo ali-12, kuquka amaNgqina kaYehova. Urhulumente wabangela ukuba abantu bangathembani, etyhola abantu abavela kwamanye amazwe ngokuthi ziintlola. Kwaya kusiba nzima ngakumbi ukuba abathunywa bevangeli bashumayele ebantwini. AmaNgqina kaYehova aseUganda ayengene kwelona “xesha lenkathazo.” (2 Tim. 4:2) Kwakuza kwenzeka ntoni kuwo?

Kuloo nyaka ezinye iintsapho ezimbini zabathunywa bevangeli zazisele zilinikele umva elo ngenxa yokungahlaziywa kwezicelo zazo zokuhlala. Phakathi kuJulayi, abathunywa bevangeli abali-12 ababesasele apho nabo bagxothwa. Abazalwana ababevela kumazwe angaphandle ababeze kukhonza apho ngenxa yokuba kwakufuneka abavakalisi abangakumbi, bakha bakwazi ukuthi vu okwexeshana ngenxa yomsebenzi wempangelo ababewenza, kodwa loo nkululeko yayiza kuphela kungekudala. Kunyaka olandelayo, bonke banikwa uphum’ aphele kwelo.

‘QINANI NINGABI NAKUSHUKUMA’

Abazalwana baseUganda basala bebuhlungu ngokwenene kukumka kwabazalwana noodadewabo abathandekayo ababevela kwamanye amazwe. Noko ke, uYehova wabomeleza ‘baqina ababi nakushukuma.’ (1 Kor. 15:58) Omnye umzalwana okhulileyo, uErnest Wamala akazange akwazi ukuzibamba esakuva ukuba uphelisiwe umsebenzi wamaNgqina kaYehova kwelo. Wabuza, “Bangayenza njani into yokuphelisa kanye oko kusentliziyweni yam?”

Abadala baseUganda, abafana noGeorge Kadu noPeter Gyabi, babeza kuwusingatha njani umsebenzi ekubeni babemke bonke abadala abavela kwamanye amazwe? Ukukhula ngokomoya nokuzazi kwabo kakuhle izithethe zalapho kwabanceda gqitha. UMzalwan’ uGyabi uthi: “Umntu waseUganda owamkela inyaniso aze akhonze uYehova, kwakufuneka azeyise gqitha ukuze ahlukane namasiko angqubanayo nemilinganiselo kaYehova. Oku kuzeyisa kwakufuneka ngokukhethekileyo kubazalwana abaneembopheleleko ababemele bathembele ngokupheleleyo kulwalathiso olubhaliweyo lwentlangano kaYehova.” Ukufundisisa ngamandla kwabadala balapho kwabanceda bakuphepha ukulahlekiswa bubulumko obuyingozi babantu. Ngenxa yoko, eli xesha lobunzima laba lixesha lokwenza inkqubela yokomoya kubantu bakaYehova, kunokuba libaqobe amandla.

Kwelinye icala, abantu belo lizwe babesiya beziva benganqabisekanga. Abaninzi babexhatshazwa ngoxa abanye babetshutshiswa ngumkhosi. Ukonakala kwaba yinto ephambili, lwaza olo rhwaphilizo lwakhokelela ekuweni koqoqosho. Elo lizwe lihle lasala ebugxwayibeni. Ngaba abakhonzi bakaYehova abathembekileyo baseUganda babeza kukwazi ukuhlala bevuya kweli xesha lobunzima?

IINDIBANO ZOVUYO

Urhulumente wenza konke okusemandleni akhe ukuze aphelise zonke iintlanganiso zezopolitiko ezazibonakala zisisisongelo kulawulo lwakhe. Ngoxa amaNgqina kaYehova ayengathabathi cala kuloo meko, ayewuhlonela umyalelo weBhayibhile wokuba angakutyesheli ukuhlanganisana kwawo ndawonye ukuze akhuthazane. (Heb. 10:24, 25) Kwakufuna isibindi nobulumko ukuze akwazi ukuhlanganisana ngoxa ebekw’ esweni ngabasemagunyeni ababekrokrela yonke into. Abakhonzi bakaThixo babeza kwenza ntoni ukuze bangatsaleli amehlo kwezo ntlanganiso?

Baqala ngokulungiselela iintlanganiso ezincinane kumakhaya abo. Xa beza kuhlanganisana njengamaqela amakhulu, babesenza ngathi banembutho nje yokuzonwabisa. Ngokomzekelo, kanye ngenyanga ibandla lonke lalihlanganisana kwintetho yesidlangalala kunye neSifundo seMboniselo. Abazalwana babelungiselela imbutho epakini okanye egadini yomnye umzalwana. Eli cebo lalisebenza kakuhle kubantu baseUganda abathanda iimbutho, nababeyiqhelile into yokuhlanganisana kwabahlobo okanye izalamane ukuze zizonwabise. Enye into eyayinceda abazalwana bakwazi ukuza neeBhayibhile zabo neencwadi eziza kufundwa apho, kukuzifaka phakathi kwezinto abaphethe ngazo ukutya kwembutho. Ezo ntlanganiso zabanceda bacinga ngendlela amele ukuba ayevakalelwa ngayo amaSirayeli amandulo xa ehlanganisene kwimithendeleko yonqulo.—Dut. 16:15.

Ngalo lonke elo xesha lokuvalwa umlomo, abazalwana babesebenzisa loo ndlela ukuqhuba iindibano zesiphaluka ezishwankathelweyo. Phezu kwayo nje imigudu karhulumente yokubathintela, abazalwana abazange bayeke ukuhlanganisana okanye ukushumayela iindaba ezilungileyo. Abanye abazalwana babede bakwazi nokuya kwiindibano zesithili eNairobi baze babuye babalisele abanye abazalwana ngamava akhuthazayo.

‘BABELUMKE NJENGEENYOKA UKANTI BEMSULWA NJENGAMAHOBE’

Abazalwana ababekhokela kumsebenzi wokushumayela baye bavakalelwa kukuba xa ‘belumke njengeenyoka ukanti bemsulwa njengamahobe,’ ukuvalwa komsebenzi kwakungayi kuba ngumqobo kangako ekubeni baqhubeke besenza imisebenzi kaThixo. (Mat. 10:16) Ngoko ke, besebenzisa ubulumko, oovulindlela abakhethekileyo baqhubeka nomsebenzi wabo, babe nabavakalisi betyhalela phambili nokushumayela kwindlu ngendlu.

Kakade ke, bakho ababengakuthandi ukutyelelwa ngamaNgqina kaYehova emizini yabo. Ngenye imini kwiminyaka ye-1970, uPeter Gyabi wayesentsimini kunye noFred Nyende owayekwishumi elivisayo. UFred wayelusana xa unina wayefumana inyaniso ngowe-1962. Ekukhuleni kwakhe wayeza kujamelana novavanyo.

Bangena kwindlu yelinye igosa lezokhuseleko elalinganxibanga mpahla yomsebenzi, elaba lugcwabevu ngumsindo lisakuqonda ukuba ngamaNgqina kaYehova. Lababamba labafaka emotweni yalo. Babesoyika kuba babebaninzi abantu ababebanjwa ngolo hlobo baze bangaphinde babonwe. Kwakuyinto eqhelekileyo ukungcungcuthekiswa kwabantu ngaphandle kwesizathu. Njengoko babesisiwa kwiofisi yeli gosa, bathandaza becela uYehova ukuba abomeleze bazole yaye bahlale bethembekile. Eli gosa labasa kumphathi walo, libatyabeka ngezityholo ngoxa lalibaphosa uthotho lwemibuzo. Noko ke, bazibonela ngokwabo ukuba yinyaniso kwamazwi akwiMizekeliso 25:15 athi: “Ngomonde umphathi uyacengeka, yaye ngolwimi olunobulali unokwaphula ithambo.” Kodwa ngethamsanqa zange kubekho thambo laphukayo ngaloo mvakwemini. Into nje eyenzekayo kukuba lo mphathi waphela amandla yindlela awayezole ngayo uPeter xa wayecacisa ngokuthobela umthetho nokubambelela kwethu kwiimfundiso zeBhayibhile, egqitywa nayimbeko neempendulo ababemnika zona aba bazalwana. Waba yintoni umphumo?

Lo mphathi akazange anele nje ukubakhulula uPeter noFred, kodwa wayalela elo gosa lalibabambile ukuba libafake emotweni libabuyisele entsimini. Liphoxeke limanzi eli gosa labapheleka, yaye aba bazalwana bambulela uYehova ngokubanceda.

Ezinye izinto ezazisidibanisa namapolisa zazingeyongxaki kangako. Ngokomzekelo, uEmmanuel Kyamiza nomfazi wakhe babeqhuba iintlanganiso kunye nentsapho yabo neqela elincinane labantu abanomdla ngokufihlakeleyo emzini wabo ose-Entebbe. Ezama ukulahla umkhondo, wayemana ezitshintshatshintsha iindawo aqhubela kuzo izifundo zeBhayibhile. Ekuhambeni kwexesha, uEmmanuel wayecinga ukuba iyamsebenzela loo ndlela. Kodwa ngenye imini wathi xa egqiba ukuqhuba isifundo seBhayibhile kuMyezo (Botanical Gardens) wase-Entebbe, wabona kusiza ipolisa waza wazama ukufihla ezo ncwadi. Eli polisa lambuza: “Uzifihlelani iincwadi zakho? Siyayazi into eniyenzayo. Siyazi ukuba ningamaNgqina kaYehova. Siyazazi neendawo enihlanganisana kuzo. Ukuba besifuna, ngekukudala sanibambayo. Ningaqhubeka nesifundo senu.” UEmmanuel waqhubeka—esenjenjalo ngokuthembeka.

Kamva, xa uEmmanuel wathabatha umhlala-phantsi waza wabuyela kowabo, wanyamezela intshutshiso nokugculelwa. Kanye njengoYesu, ‘waphathwa ngokungenambeko kummandla wakowabo.’ (Marko 6:4) Nakuba wayekwiminyaka yama-70 ubudala, uEmmanuel waqhubeka ‘echuma ebudeni bokuba nezimvi,’ yaye ehamba ngebhayisekile umgama oziikhilomitha ezingama-30 ukuya nokubuya kwiintlanganiso. (INdu. 92:14) Namhlanje, sele ekuma-80 eminyaka ubudala, yaye usakhonza ngokuthembeka njengesicaka solungiselelo, nakuba engasayikhweli ngendlela afuna ngayo ibhayisekile.

OOVULINDLELA ABANENZONDELELO

Phezu kwawo nje amahlandinyuka alapho, babesoloko bekho oovulindlela. Omnye uvulindlela owayenenzondelelo ngelo xesha yayinguJames Luwerekera, owayengunocanda wemihlaba karhulumente nowabhaptizwa ngowe-1974. Kungekudala emva kokuba ebhaptiziwe, waba ngumlimi ukuze akwazi ukushumayela iindaba ezilungileyo kubantu belali yakowabo. Naye umfazi wakhe wakha wafundelwa kangangethutyana, kodwa ekuhambeni kwexesha wamchasa uJames.

Ngokomzekelo, ngenye imini uJames nabanye abazalwana bahamba ngenj’ ixukuxa besiya kwindibano yesithili eNairobi. Kamva, xa babemiswe ngamapolisa, aba bazalwana baphawula ukuba uJames wayenxibe impahla engadibaniyo, nto leyo angazange ayenze. Ekuqaleni, waqhula esithi kungenxa yokuba wayenxibele ebumnyameni buphuthuphuthu. Kodwa bathi aba bahlobo bakhe bakuzingisa bebuza isizathu, wavuma ukuba umfazi wakhe wayefihle iimpahla zakhe ukuze angayi kwindibano. Ngenxa yoko wathi hlasi nantoni na ephambi kwakhe. Aba bazalwana bamnika iimpahla zabo waza wafika kwindibano enxibe kakuhle.

Akho amaxesha awayekhe atshutshiswe ngawo endlwini naselumelwaneni, kodwa akwazi ukufumana indlela yokuphuma. Maxa wambi le ntshutshiso yayikhe ibe qatha ngendlela engathethekiyo. Oku kwaqhubeka kangangeminyaka. UJames wakunyamezela ngomonde konke oku ezakhela igama elihle de kwasa ekufeni kwakhe ngowama-2005. Abazalwana abalulibali nanamhlanje ukholo lwakhe, yaye akuthandabuzeki ukuba noThixo wakhe, uYehova, uyalukhumbula.

‘UMZALWANA OZALELWE IXESHA LOKUBANDEZELEKA’

“Iqabane lokwenyaniso lithanda ngamaxesha onke, yaye lingumzalwana ozalelwe ixesha lokubandezeleka.” (IMize. 17:17) Abazalwana baseKenya baba ngamaqabane okwenyaniso ngalo lonke elo xesha lokubandezeleka neengozi awayejamelana nazo amaNgqina aseUganda kwiminyaka ye-1970. Kwakufuneka isibindi ukuze abaveleli abahambahambayo kunye nabameli besebe bawele umda baye kunceda baze bomeleze abazalwana noodade babo eUganda.

Ngowe-1978 kwavuka uqhushululu lwezopolitiko xa iqela elithile lamajoni aseUganda lahlasela iTanzania. NgoAprili 1979 umkhosi waseTanzania waziphindezelela ngokubhukuqa urhulumente waseUganda, kwaza kwanyanzeleka ukuba uzwilakhe owayesoyikwa walapho uIdi Amin asabe. Oko kusaba kuka-Amin eUganda kwabangela iinguqu ezininzi. Omnye umzalwana uthi: “Ekuhambeni kwakhe wavulwa umsebenzi wokushumayela.” Iphephandaba iUganda Times lathi: “Abathunywa Bevangeli Bangabuyela EUganda.” Abantu bakaYehova baphinda bakwazi ukunqula ngokukhululekileyo.

“NOKUBA BAFUNA UKUNDIBULALA, NDIYAYA”

Ukutshintsha kukarhulumente waseUganda kwabangela ukuba abantu bakhululeke kakhulu kangangokuba kwakulula ukuphanga izinto zabanye. Ngenxa yeso siphithiphithi kwagquba ubusela nogonyamelo olungazange lubonwe. Kuyo yonke loo nto, ngokukhawuleza abazalwana abakwisebe laseKenya bathumela uGünter Reschke noStanley Makumba ukuba batyelele iUganda baze balungiselele iindibano zesiphaluka.

UGünter uthi: “Kwiiveki ezimbini ngaphambi kokuba sihambe, sasifundisa kwisikolo soovulindlela eMeru, kufuphi neMount Kenya. Ndikhumbula ndifunda kwiphephandaba ngabantu abaninzi ababebulawa eKampala, ingakumbi ebusuku. Emva kokufunda oko ngokuvakalayo, ndathi: ‘Yile ndawo siza kuya kuyo le kule veki izayo!’ Kodwa ndazibuza, ‘Ngaba ndifuna ukufana noYona ndize ndibaleke isabelo sam?’ Ndakhawuleza ndayeka ukoyika ndazixelela oku, ‘Nokuba bafuna ukundibulala, ndiyaya. Andiyi kubaleka njengoYona.’”

Aba bazalwana baya eUganda, uStanley etyelela amabandla asembindini welo, ngoxa uGünter wayesiya kulawo akwiidolophu ezinkulu. Kwingxelo yabo bathi: “Zininzi izinto ekuye kwafuneka zilungiswe emva kwemfazwe. Ngelo xesha, abavakalisi abakhutheleyo babeli-113 kuphela eUganda. Bonke abantu babevuyiswa kukuphinda bafumane inkululeko yokuhlanganisana ngokukhululekileyo, yaye kuloo ndibano kwabakho abantu abangama-241.” Nangona imbewu yenyaniso yayonakalisiwe, kuyabonakala ukuba yayisenokuvelisa iziqhamo.

AMAXESHA AYINGOZI

Xa babetyelele eMbale, idolophu ekufutshane nomda okwimpuma yeUganda, uGünter noStanley, bamisa imoto yabo phambi komzi ababeza kulala kuwo. Ebusuku beva amasela eqhekeza imoto yabo. UGünter wathi xa sele eza kuwakhwaza, wakhumbula ukuba ekuqaleni kwaloo veki amasela adubule umntu wafa kuba wayezama ukuwanqanda. Wathi akucinga ngoko wakhumbula ukuba ubomi bubaluleke ngaphezu kwemoto waza wawayeka. Ekuseni bafumanisa ukuba kubiwe amavili amabini kunye neglasi yangaphambili. Baya kumangala emapoliseni, aza abacebisa athi, “Hambani nale moto engekaphindi abuye loo masela aze aphinde ayityhuthule.”

Abazalwana bagxabhagxabhisa ukuya eKampala. Bahamba umgama oziikhilomitha ezingama-250 ngaloo moto ingenaglasi kwingqele eyayiqhaqhazelisa amazinyo. Ngelo xesha uGünter wayezisithe nje ngengubo, yena uStanley ethwele umnqwazi. Basebenzisa ivili elaligcinelwe undonakele baza elinye baliboleka nakuba laliphuma umoya. Enye into eyabaxhalabisa ngakumbi kukuba elo vili babefanele balibuyisele kumninilo zingekapheli iintsuku ezimbini. Aba bazalwana babexhalele ukuba elo vili lingabagqabhukeli endleleni.

Enye ingxaki abahlangabezana nayo kukuba loo ndlela yayinqumla ehlathini yaye ithandwa ngabaphangi. Umntu ababefikele kuye wathi: “Ze nibe ngathi niyawunyathela umcephe, ningavumeli nayiphi na imoto efuna ukunidlula.” Aba bazalwana bangapheli mandla bavuyiswa kukufika ngokukhawuleza eKampala yaye bekhuselekile. Bakwazi ukufumana umntu owayeza kubuyela eMbale nelo vili babelibolekile kuselithuba.

KUVELA IINGXAKI NAMATHUBA

Xa wayetyelele kwikomkhulu lehlabathi eliseBrooklyn eNew York ngowe-1980, uMzalwan’ uReschke wacelwa ukuba achazele intsapho yaseBheteli ngezinto eziqhubeka eUganda. Emva koko, amalungu eQumrhu Elilawulayo achaza ukuba asenokuphinda athumele abathunywa bevangeli eUganda. Wonke umntu wavuma ukuba yayilixesha elifanelekileyo elo. AmaKristu aseUganda aphinda akwazi ukubamba iintlanganiso ngokukhululekileyo, yaye ngowe-1981 inani labavakalisi balapho laliphinde laya kutsho kwi-175. NgoJulayi waloo nyaka kwabakho incopho yabavakalisi abangama-206.

Okulusizi kukuba, umlo weminyaka elishumi washiya izixhobo zokulwa ezandleni zoongantweni. Kwakuqhelekile ukuva izithonga zemipu nokuphanga. Besebenzisa ubulumko abashumayeli beendaba ezilungileyo bazama ukusasaza iincwadi zeBhayibhile eziyintuthuzelo kuloo ntsimi kangangokuba ngoJulayi umvakalisi ngamnye wahambisa umlinganiselo wamaphephancwadi ali-12, 5. Noko ke, njengokuba kwakunjalo ngeminye imisebenzi kwabonakala kufanelekile ukuba inkonzo yasentsimini yenziwe emini kuphela kuba ngorhatya abantu babengakhuselekanga. Phezu kwazo nje ezo ngozi abantu babethontelana ukungena entlanganweni.

ABATHUNYWA BEVANGELI BAYABUYA

NgoSeptemba 1982, eKampala kwafika uJeffrey Welch noAri Palviainen abaphumelela eGiliyadi bevela eKenya. Zisuka nje, uJeff noAri bafumana imiphumo encumisayo. UJeff uthi: “Ngelo xesha abantu babelambele izinto zokomoya, ngoko babewamkela ngokulula amaphephancwadi awayethetha ngezinto abanomdla wokuzazi.”

NgoDisemba, uHeinz noMarianne Wertholz abasuka kwiSikolo saseGiliyadi esasiqhutyelwa eWiesbaden, eJamani, beza kusebenza noJeff noAri. Ekuqaleni abakwaWertholz babechukumiseke ngokwenene yindlela abazalwana babo baseUganda ababeqhuba kakuhle ngayo kwiindawo zaseUganda ezonakeleyo neziyingozi.

UHeinz uthi: “Iinkonzo ezininzi njengamanzi neendlela zokunxibelelana zazingasafumaneki. Imeko yezopolitiko yaya isiba mbi ngokwenene. Izihlandlo ezininzi kwakuvakala amarhe okuba kuza kubhukuqwa urhulumente, yaye amajoni ayevala iindlela. Kwakuxhaphake izithonga zemipu nokuphanga, ingakumbi ebusuku. Xa kuqalisa ukurhatyela, kwakungabonakali mntu esitratweni. Wonke umntu wayezivalela endlwini, ethandazela ukuba ngobo busuku kungabikho sihange singenayo.”

UHeinz noMarianne baya kuhlaliswa noSam Waiswa nentsapho yakhe ngoxa babesafuna indlu eza kusetyenziswa njengekhaya labathunywa bevangeli. Intsapho kaSam yayinomoya wokubuk’ iindwendwe ngendlela emangalisayo kuba nangona wayengutitshala, wayengenazinto zingako ngenxa yemeko embi yoqoqosho.

UHeinz uthi: “Kwakunzima ukufumana indlu kwindawo ekhuselekileyo, ngoko sahlala emzini kaSam iinyanga ezintlanu. Elo xesha lide kangako lasinceda sazana kakuhle. Maxa wambi intsapho yakhe enkulu yayisitya kanye ngemini, kodwa yayisoloko yonwabile; nabantwana bakhe babethobela yaye benembeko. Ekubeni iitephu zamanzi zazisoloko zomile, kwakunyanzeleka ukuba abantwana baye kukha amanzi ngeembombozi eziziilitha ezingama-20. Xa sivela entsimini sasisoloko sifika sikhelelwe amanzi. Safunda neendlela zokonga amanzi. Ngokomzekelo, sasihlamba ngamanzi amancinane size siwagcinele ukuwasebenzisa kwindlu yangasese.”

NgoAprili 1983, malunga neminyaka elishumi emva kokuba kugxothwe abathunywa bevangeli eUganda, abathunywa bevangeli abatsha abane bafumana indlu kwindawo ekhuselekileyo. Ukungabikho kokhuseleko nokunqongophala kwezinto kwakubangela iingxaki ezininzi, kodwa uthando lwabazalwana basekuhlaleni lwazigubungela zonke ezo zinto.

UMarianne uthi: “Sasisoloko sikunandipha ukuthetha nabantu entsimini. Babethanda unqulo, inkoliso yabo ineBhayibhile, yaye babekuthanda ukuxubusha ngayo. Kwakulula ukuthetha nabo yaye babenembeko. Yaye ngaphandle nje kwamanzithinzithi emali nezinye izinto, ubuso babusoloko buzele luncumo.”

AMAGQALA AFUNA UKWENZA OKUNGAKUMBI

Abantu abaninzi abakhulileyo abahlonitshwayo eUganda, babezamkela iindaba ezilungileyo yaye besebenzisa loo minyaka yabo ekukhonzeni uYehova. Ngokomzekelo, uPaulo Mukasa, owayefudula engutitshala, wafunda inyaniso eneminyaka engama-89 ubudala. Ekubeni wayephila ebudeni beemfazwe ezimbini zehlabathi, xa kwakuphethe abalawuli bamathanga, ngexesha likazwilakhe owayenogonyamelo, namanye amahlandinyuka ezopolitiko, uPaulo wayekulangazelela ukufunda ngoBukumkani bukaThixo. Wakuvuyela ukuva ukuba uKumkani onguMesiya, uYesu Kristu, ‘uya kumhlangula lowo ulihlwempu aze amkhulule oxhwalekileyo kwingcinezelo nakugonyamelo.’—INdu. 72:12, 14.

Xa kwafuneka ukuba uPaulo abhaptizwe kwiminyaka emibini kamva, abazalwana bazibuza oku, ‘Siza kumtywilisela njani umntu omdala kangaka?’ Kodwa kwakungekho mfuneko yakuxhalaba. Ngoxa omnye oselula wayesoyika ukungena emanzini, yona le ngwevu ineminyaka engama-91 ubudala yangena yaza yaphuma emanzini incumile. Nangona kwakunzima ukuya entsimini, uPaulo wayekuzondelele ukushumayela iindaba ezilungileyo zoBukumkani kuye nabani na oze kumbona de wafa.

Omnye umntu owajamelana neengxaki zokwaluphala nempilo enkenenkene nguLovinca Nakayima. Ngenxa yokugula imilenze yakhe yayidumba kangangokuba kwakufuneka ancedwe ukuze akwazi ukuhamba. Sekunjalo, ngexesha leSikhumbuzo xa kwakukhuthazwa abavakalisi ukuba babe ngoovulindlela abangabancedani, uLovinca wayefuna ukuba nguye. Abavakalisi bamnceda wakwazi ukuba nguvulindlela ngokusa abantu abanomdla kuye ukuba abaqhubele isifundo seBhayibhile. Kwakhona abathunywa bevangeli bamfundisa ukubhalela abantu abahlala kwiidolophana iileta, nto leyo awayeza kuyenza xa enethuba. Emva koko, ngemiGqibelo wayethathwa ngumdala othile amse kwindawo kawonke-wonke eKampala, apho wayehlala kudonga olufutshane aze ashumayele kubantu abadlulayo imini yonke. Ekupheleni kwenyanga, evuyile yaye anelisekile, wathi, “Ndiyabona ukuba ndinokuba nguvulindlela—yaye ndikunandiphe!” Zange anele nje ukuba nguvulindlela kuloo nyanga, kodwa ngenxa yokuba wayexhaswa libandla, wakwazi ukuba nguvulindlela iinyanga ezili-11 zilandelelana.

“UTHINI XA USITHI . . . ?”

Kwiminyaka ye-1980 abavakalisi baseUganda ababezibhokoxa emsebenzini babamkela ngezandla ezishushu abathunywa bevangeli ababegaleleka kwilizwe labo. Abanye babesandul’ ukuphumelela kwisikolo saseGiliyadi ukanti abanye babegxothwe eZaire (ngoku eyiDemocratic Republic of the Congo). Ngenxa yokufika kwabathunywa bevangeli abaninzi eKampala naseJinja bakwazi ukuyigubungela ngokucokisekileyo intsimi enabantu abaninzi, yaye aba bathunywa bakuvuyela ukufumanisa ukuba intsimi yaseUganda ilungele ukuvunwa. Phofu ke, ingxaki yayingekokufumana nje abantu abanomdla, kodwa yayikukuwuhlakulela.

Esenehlombe awayenalo kwiSikolo saseGiliyadi, uMats Holmkvist wayezimisele ukufunda ulwimi lwalapho ukuze akwazi ukunceda abantu abanomdla kwinyaniso. Ngesi sihlandlo, uFred Nyende wayenguvulindlela okhethekileyo e-Entebbe, yaye wabusebenzisa ubuchule awayenabo bokuguqulela efundisa abathunywa bevangeli abatsha ukuba bakwazi ukuthetha isiLuganda, ulwimi olwalunamagama ekunzima ukuwabiza. Eneneni, uMats wakufumanisa kunzima ukufunda olu lwimi.

Xa wayeqala ukufunda olu lwimi uMats wabuza: “Uthini xa usithi ‘uBukumkani BukaThixo’ ngesiLuganda?”

UFred wathi: “Obwakabaka bwa Katonda.”

‘Ndiza kulibiza njani ke eli binzana,’ wazibuza uMats, ezisola ukuba wayewubuzela ntoni lo mbuzo. Sekunjalo, uMats wenza inkqubela engathethekiyo ekufundeni olo lwimi wada wakwazi ukuluthetha kakuhle.

ABAVAKALISI BAYANDA

Phezu kwazo nje iingxaki ababejamelene nazo abantu baseUganda ukutyhubela iminyaka ye-1980, abantu babeyamkela inyaniso yeBhayibhile ngendlela engathethekiyo. Abavakalisi banda ngomlinganiselo ongaphezu kwe-130 ekhulwini—ukususela kwabangama-328 ngowe-1986 ukusa kwabangama-766 ngowe-1990. Kulo lonke ilizwe kwakusekwa amaqela amatsha. EKampala amabandla aphindaphindeka kabini. Ibandla laseJinja lavuyiswa kukubona inani labavakalisi liphindaphindeka kathathu, ngoxa iqela laseIganga lakhawuleza laba libandla.

Omnye umdala waseJinja uthi: “Kwabakho ulwando oluninzi kangangokuba sasizibuza ukuba babevela phi bonke abo bavakalisi bangako. Phantse yonk’ imihla ngeCawa kwakufuneka sihlole abo babefuna ukuba ngabavakalisi abangabhaptizwanga.”

UKUVUNA INTSIMI ENKULU

Enye into eyabangela ukuba kubekho ulwando olungako ngumoya wobuvulindlela abazalwana ababenawo. Kanye njengabashumayeli beendaba ezilungileyo benkulungwane yokuqala, uPawulos, uSilas noTimoti, abakhonzi bexesha elizeleyo baseUganda ‘bazinikela njengomzekelo wokuxeliswa.’ (2 Tes. 3:9) Ngenxa yokwanda kwabantu abanomdla nokukhuthazwa nguloo mzekelo mhle wabazalwana, abavakalisi abaninzi abanenzondelelo bayandisa inkonzo. Abaselula nabakhulileyo, abatshatileyo nabangatshatanga, amadoda namabhinqa kunye nabanye ababenyamekela iintsapho baba ngoovulindlela. Ngokomlinganiselo, abavakalisi abangaphezu kwama-25 ekhulwini baba ngoovulindlela ekupheleni kweminyaka ye-1980. Abanye basekwinkonzo yexesha elizeleyo nangoku.

Oovulindlela bawaxhasa amaphulo akhethekileyo okushumayela awayesenziwa minyaka le nawayebizwa ngokuba ngamaphulo aseMakedoni. (IZe. 16:9, 10) Loo maphulo aqhubeka kangangeminyaka. Amabandla ashumayela kwintsimi engabelwanga bani okanye eshunyayelwa manqaphanqapha kangangeenyanga ezintathu. Ukongezelela, abanye oovulindlela abathe ngxi benziwa oovulindlela abakhethekileyo bokwexeshana kumasimi afuna abavakalisi abangakumbi. Yonke le migudu iye yanemiphumo emihle. Abantu abaninzi abanyanisekileyo baye banombulelo ngala maphulo kuba aye abanceda bayazi inyaniso yaye kuye kwasekwa amaqela amaninzi kunye namabandla.

Kwelinye iphulo, uPeter Abramow noMichael Reiss, abathunywa bevangeli, babeshumayela kwidolophu yaseKabale baza badibana noMargaret Tofayo, owayekhe waqhutyelwa isifundo seBhayibhile. Wayeqinisekile ukuba loo nto wayeyifundiswa yinyaniso, yaye wayesele eqalile ukuxelela abanye ngayo. Ukuze bamncede aba bathunywa bevangeli, bamnika ekuphela kwencwadi ababenayo ethi Ukuqiqa NgeZibhalo. Xa abazalwana babetyelele uMargaret ngaphambi kokuba bahambe, bothuswa kukufika ebaphekele isidlo esikhethekileyo. Bambulela gqitha ngobubele nesisa esingako kodwa bakhathazwa yinto yokuba wayepheke inkukhu yakhe ekuphela kwayo. Babesazi ukuba wayexhomekeke kumaqanda ayo ukuze ondle intsapho yakhe. Wathi kubo: “Ningakhathazeki, nindiphe okuninzi ngaphezu koku mna ndininika kona.” Ekugqibeleni wabhaptizwa waza waba ngumvakalisi onenzondelelo de wafa.

Enye into eyaba negalelo kolo lwando yaba yindlela abazalwana ababezisebenzisa ngayo iincwadi. UMats okhankanywe ngaphambili uthi: “Nakuba sasizama ukuphucula ubuchule bethu bokufundisa, yiBhayibhile neencwadi ezisekelwe kuyo eyayibangela ukuba abantu batshintshe ubomi babo. Kwanabo bangakwaziyo ukufunda kakuhle kodwa benxanelwe inyaniso babechukumiseka ziincwadana zethu ezinemifanekiso.”

UKUJAMELANA NEMIQOBO

Inkqubela encumisayo yeminyaka ye-1980 yayinezayo iingxaki. NgoJulayi 1985 umkhosi waphinda wabhukuqa urhulumente. Abantu baphinda abanqabiseka, yaya iqatsela nemfazwe yabanqolobi. Imikhosi eyayizulazula apho yaba nogonyamelo yaza ayalawuleka, iphanga izinto zabantu ize idubule nabani na edibana naye. Kukho ixesha apho la madabi ayeqhubeka kufutshane nendawo ababehlala kuyo abathunywa bevangeli eJinja. Ngenye imini bavingcelwa ngamajoni, kodwa athi akuva ukuba bangabathunywa bevangeli ashiya engonakalisanga kwanto ngaphandle kokuthabatha nje izinto ezimbalwa. Kwala ke ngoJanuwari 1986, kwangena omnye urhulumente waza wazama ukubuyisela uzinzo kwelo.

Lo rhulumente mtsha wajamelana nolunye utshaba—uGawulayo. Ukufika kwaso esi sifo ngeminyaka ye-1980, iUganda yaba lelinye lamazwe achaphazeleka kakhulu. Kuqikelelwa ukuba kwafa abantu abafikelela kwisigidi, inani elingaphezulu kwelabantu abafa kwizidubedube zezopolitiko ezathabatha iminyaka eli-15. Esi sifo sabachaphazela njani abazalwana bethu?

UWashington Ssentongo onguvulindlela othe ngxi uthi: “Kukho abazalwana noodade ababesandul’ ukufumana inyaniso, ababenamandla nenzondelelo kodwa babulawa nguGawulayo. Bafumana intsholongwane iHIV ngaphambi kokuba bafunde inyaniso.” Ukanti abanye bosulelwa ngamaqabane abo angakholwayo.

UWashington uthi: “Maxa wambi kwakungapheli nyanga singevanga ngokufa komntu esimaziyo nesimthandayo, yaye kwakungekho mntu ungafelwayo. Kwakukho nenkolelo ethile ngoGawulayo. Abantu abaninzi babecinga ukuba unento yokwenza nokuthakatha nokuqalekiswa. Le mbono iphosakeleyo yenza abantu boyikana, bacaphukelana yaye kwanzima nokuqiqa nabo.” Sekunjalo, abazalwana noodadewethu babethuthuzelana ngethemba lovuko yaye bexelelana indlela abathandana ngayo.

Njengoko kwakuphela iminyaka ye-1980, kwabakho ithemba elingakumbi kubantu baseUganda. Ukhuseleko lwalubuyela esiqhelweni, labe nelizwe lisiza kakuhle kwezoqoqosho. Kwakuphuculwa izakhiwo neendlela, kuquka iinkqubo zokunceda abantu.

Njengokuba abantu babesiya bebeka ithemba ngakumbi kwezopolitiko, maxa wambi babengakuqondi ukungathabath’ icala kwamaNgqina kaYehova. Ngesinye isihlandlo, abasemagunyeni banyanzela abazalwana ukuba bayeke ukwakha iHolo yoBukumkani. Maxa wambi yayingafumaneki imvume yokuqhuba iindibano, kwanyanzeleka ukuba abanye abathunywa bevangeli balishiye elo emva kokuphela kwamaphepha-mvume okuhlala. Ngasekupheleni kowe-1991, kwakusele abathunywa bevangeli ababini kuphela. Yintoni eyayinokwenziwa ukuphucula loo meko?

Ekugqibeleni kwaphuma igqiza labazalwana laya kuthethathethana nabasemagunyeni ukuze libacacisele ngokungathabathi cala kwethu kwezopolitiko. Bathi bakukuqonda oku babavumela abathunywa bevangeli ukuba babuyele eUganda. Umsebenzi wokushumayela watyhalela phambili ngaphandle kweziphazamiso, yaye ngowe-1993 iUganda yaba nabavakalisi abali-1 000. Emva kweminyaka nje emihlanu yaba nabavakalisi boBukumkani abangama-2 000. Ngoku kukho abathunywa bevangeli abangama-40 abaqhubeka nomsebenzi omhle wokushumayela kulo lonke elo.

UKUGUQULELA KWENZA ABANTU BATHONTELANE UKUNGENA

Kulo lonke elo lizwe kusetyenziswa isiNgesi. Noko ke, olona lwimi luthethwa kakhulu apho sisiLuganda, ngoxa kukho nezinye iilwimi ezingaphezu kwama-30 ezithethwa ngamaqela ahlukahlukeneyo eentlanga. Ngoko ke, kukuphuculwa komsebenzi wokuguqulela okuye kwanegalelo ekwandeni kwabantu ngokukhawuleza.

UFred Nyende uthi: “Nangona umama wayelingqina elithembekileyo, wayengenelwa ngakumbi kwiintlanganiso xa amanqaku akhe ndiye ndawaguqulela kwisiLuganda. Ndandingazi ukuba ngokwenza oko ndiqeqeshelwa umsebenzi ongakumbi wokuguqulela.” Wayetheth’ ukuthini uFred?

Kungekudala emva kokuba eqalise ukuba nguvulindlela ngowe-1984, uFred wacelwa ukuba afundise abathunywa bevangeli isiLuganda. Kunyaka olandelayo wabizwa ukuze abe lilungu leqela labaguquleli besiLuganda. Ekuqaleni, yena nabanye abaguquleli babewenzela emakhayeni abo lo msebenzi xa benethuba. Kamva basebenza kunye ixesha elizeleyo kwigumbi elincinane elalikwikhaya labathunywa bevangeli. Okubangela umdla kukuba, ngoxa umsebenzi wawuvaliwe phakathi kwiminyaka yeye-1970, ezinye iinkupho zeMboniselo zaziguqulelwa ngesiLuganda kuze kwenziwe iikopi ngomatshini. Ekuhambeni kwexesha, lo msebenzi wayekwa de kwangowe-1987. Ukususela ngoko iqela labaguquleli landa, laza lasebenza nzima liguqulela ezinye iimpapasho lilungiselela amabandla andayo athetha isiLuganda. Sithethanje, phantse isiqingatha sawo onke amabandla elo lizwe athetha isiLuganda.

Ekuhambeni kwexesha iimpapasho zethu zaguqulelwa nakwezinye iilwimi. Ngoku kukho abaguquleli abasisigxina abaguqulela isiAcholi, isiLhukonzo nesiRunyankore. Ukongezelela kwezo lwimi, kukho iimpapasho ezithile eziye zaguqulelwa ngesiAteso, isiLugbara, isiMadi nesiRutoro.

Abaguquleli besiAcholi nesiRunyankore basebenza kwiiofisi eziseGulu naseMbarara, apho zithethwa khona ezi lwimi. Oku kubanceda bangaphulukani nolwimi lwabo lomthonyama ukuze baguqulele ngendlela eqondakala lula. Kwangaxeshanye, amabandla akufuphi ancedakala ngokuba nabaguquleli abakhonza kuwo.

Alithandabuzeki elokuba umsebenzi wokuguqulela ufuna imigudu engathethekiyo yaye uziindleko. Ezi ziquququ zabaguquleli baseUganda kuquka nabanye ehlabathini lonke baye bancedwa luqeqesho olusemagqabini olulungiselelwe ukuphuhlisa izakhono zabo. Nakuba oku kuziindleko kuye kwaba nemiphumo emihle kuba ngoku abantu abangakumbi baseUganda abaphuma ‘kwiintlanga nezizwe nezizwana neelwimi’ ezahlukahlukeneyo baxhamla inyaniso yeBhayibhile ngokuyifunda ngeelwimi zabo. (ISityhi. 7:9, 10) Ngenxa yoko, ngowama-2003 kwabakho abavakalisi boBukumkani abangaphezu kwama-3 000 eUganda, kodwa kwathi kwiminyaka nje emithathu kamva, ngowama-2006, bafikelela kuma-4 005.

KUFUNEKA IINDAWO ZOKUNQULA EZINGAKUMBI

Kwiminyaka edlulileyo abazalwana babeqhuba iintlanganiso kumakhaya abo, kwiiholo zikawonke-wonke, nasezikolweni. Izakhiwo zokuqala ezazisetyenziselwa iintlanganiso zamaKristu ngokukhethekileyo yayizizakhiwo zodaka ezifulelwe ngengca ezazikwilali yaseNamaingo neyaseRusese. Imigudu eyayisenziwa ngaba bazalwana kwezi lali zimbini yasikelelwa, kwaza kwamiselwa amabandla apho.

Noko ke, ezidolophini kwakunzima ukufumana isakhiwo esifanelekileyo ngenxa yokuba sasibiza imali eninzi yaye imeko yezoqoqosho eUganda yabangela ukuba abazalwana bangabi nathemba lakufumana iiHolo zoBukumkani. Kwaba ngoMatshi 1988 ekwathi kwanikezelwa iHolo yoBukumkani yokuqala eJinja. Eso sakhiwo sasetyenzelwa nzima—kuba kwakufuneka ukuba abazalwana baye kugawula imithi kwihlathi elikufutshane, zihanjiswe ngeelori kwiindlela ezinodaka. Kamva, abazalwana baseMbale, abaseKampala nabaseTororo bazakhela iiHolo zoBukumkani besebenzisa izakhono abanazo.

Ngowe-1999 umsebenzi wokwakha iiHolo zoBukumkani wakhawuleziswa xa kwasekwa iqela lokwakha elixhaswa yiOfisi Yobunjineli Yenqila ekwisebe laseMzantsi Afrika. Eli sebe lamisela iqela labantu abasithoba, eliquka abakhonzi bokwakha bamazwe ngamazwe ababini kunye nabafazi babo. Eli qela lakhawulezisa ukufunda umsebenzi, laza lakwazi ukuqeqesha abazalwana basekuhlaleni. Indlela ababewenza ngayo lo msebenzi yabangela ukuba kukhawuleziswe ukwakhiwa iiholo ezingama-67, yaye holo nganye kwezi yakhiwa kwisithuba esimalunga nenyanga enesiqingatha—elo xesha zakhiwa ngalo lalimangalisa xa ucinga ukuba izixhobo zokwakha zazimbalwa, amanzi enqabile yaye kungelula ukufumana izinto zokwakha.

Ngoku amabandla amaninzi aseUganda aqhubela iintlanganiso kwiiHolo zawo zoBukumkani yaye anandipha iingenelo zokuba neholo kwiilali zawo. Abantu banomdla beza lula kwizakhiwo zonqulo kunasezikolweni, ngoko kuza abantu abaninzi ezintlanganisweni yaye amabandla ayanda.

UKUHLANGABEZANA NOLWANDO OLUKHAWULEZAYO

Noko ke, ukwanda kwamabandla kwakubangela ingxaki kuba zazimbalwa iindawo ekunokuqhutyelwa kuzo iindibano ezincinane nezinkulu. Kwakuza kwenziwa ntoni ukuze kufunyanwe iindawo ezifanelekileyo ezaziza kubangela ukuba abazalwana, ngokhethekileyo abasuka ezilalini, bangahambi imigama emide? Icebo lavela xa abazalwana bafumana imvume yokwakha iiHolo zoBukumkani ezinokuvulwa zibe nkulu. Ezi ziiholo eziqhelekileyo, ezandiswa ngophahla nomgangatho ongavalekanga. Xa kukho iindibano kuvulwa udonga olukwicala olwandiswe ngakulo uphahla ukuze kungene abantu abaninzi. Iiholo ezinjalo sele zikho eKajansi, eRusese, eLira yaye kwakhiwa eyesine eSeta.

Ngenxa yokwanda kwabantu abangena entlanganweni eUganda, kwanyanzeleka ukuba kuhlengahlengiswe izinto ezithile. Ngaphambi kowe-1994, kwakukho isiphaluka esinye kuphela kulo lonke elo. Kamva, kwasekwa ezingakumbi ngenxa yokwanda kwamabandla namaqela nangenxa yeelwimi ezininzi. Ekubeni kukho amabandla ali-111 namaqela angama-50 eUganda, namhlanje kukho iziphaluka ezisibhozo, yaye ezithathu kuzo zezesiLuganda.

UApollo Mukasa, omnye wabaveleli besiphaluka baseUganda wabhaptizwa ngowe-1972. Ngowe-1980 wakhetha ukungenela inkonzo yexesha elizeleyo kunokuba asukele imfundo ephakamileyo yehlabathi. Ngaba uyazisola ngesigqibo awasenzayo?

UApollo uthi: “Nakanye. Kaloku maninzi amava endaye ndawafumana xa ndandinguvulindlela okhethekileyo naxa ndandingumveleli ohambahambayo. Enye into endayivuyela gqitha kukufumana uqeqesho kwiSikolo Sokuqeqesha Abalungiseleli.”

Ngaphandle kuka-Apollo, kukho nabanye abazalwana baseUganda abangaphezu kwama-50 abaye bayixhamla le mfundo yeSikolo Sokuqeqesha Abalungiseleli ukususela ekusekweni kwaso ngowe-1994 kwisebe laseKenya. Abaninzi kwaba bazalwana bangoovulindlela abakhethekileyo abanceda amabandla amancinane namaqela, ngoxa abanye bengabaveleli abahambahambayo.

Ngowe-1995 kwasekwa iKomiti Yelizwe eyayiza kusebenza ngaphantsi kolwalathiso lwesebe laseKenya. Kwelinye lamakhaya abathunywa bevangeli aseKampala kwahlala amatsha-ntliziyo exesha elizeleyo asibhozo, kuquka abaguquleli besiLuganda. NgoSeptemba 2003, kwabakho isebe eUganda.

“NGOKU SISEPARADESI”

Kangangexesha elithile iKomiti Yelizwe ibisoloko izama ukuhlangabezana nokwanda kwamaqela abaguquleli yaye inyamekela nezinye izinto. Kwathengwa izakhiwo ezimbini ezazisecaleni kweofisi yaseKampala ukuze kunyanyekelwe olu lwando. Kodwa ke ngenxa yolwando olungakumbi, kwafuneka ezinye izakhiwo ezikhulu. Ngowama-2001 iQumrhu Elilawulayo lavuma ukuba kuthengwe umhlaba oziihektare ezine ukuze kwakhiwe isebe elitsha ngasekupheleni kweKampala, kufutshane nonxweme lweLake Victoria.

Ekuqaleni, eyona nkampani yayikufanelekela ukusakhela isebe yasikhaba isicelo sethu ngenxa yokuba yayixakeke kakhulu. Kodwa singalindelanga, kamva yavuma, yabe nemali eyayiyifuna incinane gqitha kuleyo sasiyicinga. Kuyabonakala ukuba ingalindelanga yaphulukana nomsebenzi omkhulu eyayiza kuwenza, kwanyanzeleka ukuba ivume ukusakhela ngokukhawuleza.

NgoJanuwari 2006, intsapho yaseBheteli yayichwayitile njengoko yayifudukela kwisakhiwo esithi ndijonge esinemigangatho emibini namagumbi okuhlala angama-32. Kwalapha kukho nesakhiwo seeofisi, igumbi lokutyela, ikhitshi nendawo yokuhlamba iimpahla. Ezi zakhiwo zinenkqubo yokugutyula ilindle, indawo yokugcina nokuthumela iincwadi kunye nekulungiswa kuyo izinto, oovimba bamanzi nomatshini wokuphehla umbane. Echwayitile omnye umzalwana wathi: “Ngoku siseparadesi, into eseleyo nje bubomi obungunaphakade.” Intetho yokunikezelwa kwezo zakhiwo yenziwa nguAnthony Morris, ilungu leQumrhu Elilawulayo, ngoMgqibelo, Januwari 20, 2007.

UKWANDA KOLWAZI LWENYANISO

Ukutyhubela amashumi eminyaka, kumaxesha amabi namnandi, abantu bakaYehova baseUganda baye bafunda ukuba kunjani ‘ukushumayela ilizwi ngexesha elilungileyo nangexesha lenkathazo.’ (2 Tim. 4:2) Ngowama-2008 abavakalisi balapho abangama-4 766 baqhuba izifundo zeBhayibhile ezili-11 564 kwaza kwakho abantu abali-16 644 eSikhumbuzweni sokufa kukaKristu. La manani kwanento yokuba kukho umvakalisi omnye kubemi balapho abangama-6 276, abonisa ukuba amasimi alapho “amhlophe ukuze kuvunwe.”—Yoh. 4:35.

Kwangaxeshanye abazalwana noodade baseUganda baye bafunda kumava abuhlungu indlela ezinokutshintsha ngokukhawuleza ngayo iimeko kuquka indlela olunokufika ngokukhawuleza ngayo uvavanyo. Kuyo yonke loo nto, izinto ezibehleleyo ziye zabafundisa ukukholosa ngoYehova nolwalathiso leLizwi lakhe kuquka inkxaso yabazalwana abasehlabathini lonke.

Ingelosi yaxelela umprofeti omdala nowayethembekile uDaniyeli ukuba ‘ngexesha lesiphelo, ulwazi lokwenyaniso lwaluya kuba luninzi.’ (Dan. 12:4) UYehova uye wabasikelela ngolwazi oluninzi lwenyaniso abantu baseUganda. Akuthandabuzeki ukuba, kulo mmandla uliliso lomlambokazi iNile, amanzi amaninzi enyaniso aya kuqhubela equkuqela ukuze afunyanwe ngabo bonke abanxanelwe inyaniso yokomoya. Njengoko uYehova eqhubeka esikelela umsebenzi wakhe emhlabeni wonke, sikhangele phambili kwixesha apho wonke ubani eya kumanyana ekudumiseni uYehova—ngonaphakade.

[Imibhalo esemazantsi]

[Amagama acatshulweyo akwiphepha 84]

‘Kwakuyinto engaqhelekanga ukuva kuncokola umntu waseMerika nowaseScotland kwiziko likanomathotholo laseAfrika’

[Amagama acatshulweyo akwiphepha 92]

“Bangayenza njani into yokuphelisa kanye into esentliziyweni yam?”

[Amagama acatshulweyo akwiphepha 111]

“Uthini xa usithi ‘uBukumkani BukaThixo’ ngesiLuganda?” “Obwakabaka bwa Katonda”

[Ibhokisi/Umfanekiso okwiphepha 72]

Amagqabantshintshi NgeUganda

Ukuma komhlaba

IUganda lilizwe elinezinto ezininzi ezimangalisayo. Izaliswe ngamahlathi ashinyeneyo, amathafa amakhulu, imilambo namachibi amaninzi nodederhu lweeNtaba zeRuwenzori ezigutyungelwe likhephu. Igubungela ummandla ozizikwekhilomitha ezingama-241 551 yaye ihamba iye kutsho phantse kumbindi weLake Victoria, elona chibi likhulu eAfrika.

Abantu balapha

Abemi bayo abangaphezu kwama-85 ekhulwini abaziintlanga ezahlukahlukeneyo eziphantse zibe ngama-30 bahlala ezilalini.

Ulwimi lwabo

Kwiilwimi ezingaphezu kwama-32 ezithethwa eUganda, olona lusetyenziswa kakhulu sisiLuganda. Iilwimi ezisetyenziswa kwezomthetho sisiNgesi nesiSwahili.

Indlela abazixhasa ngayo

Ekubeni kulinywa kakhulu ikofu, iti, umqhaphu nezinye izinto ekushishinwa ngazo, iUganda lelinye lamazwe aphambili kwezolimo. Inkoliso yabantu balapha iphila ngokuzilimela, ngoxa abanye bephila ngokuloba okanye ngokukhenkethisa.

Ukutya kwabo

Okona kutya kuthandwayo yinkoliso yabantu abaphila kumazantsi eli lizwe yimatooke (esemfanekisweni) ebiliswayo, eyenziwe ngeeplantain. Ipapa, ibhatata nesonka esenziwe ngamazimba okanye ngomgubo wecassava zityiwa ngemifuno eyahlukahlukeneyo.

Imozulu

Eli lizwe linemozulu entle limi kwithambeka eliphakame malunga neemitha ezili-1 500 ukusuka emazantsi, neemitha ezimalunga nama-900 emantla. Ngamanye amaxesha onyaka imimandla emininzi yeli lizwe yoma gqitha ize ibe namanzi amaninzi ngamanye.

[Ibhokisi/Umfanekiso okwiphepha 77]

Uthando Lokwenene LwamaKristu Luchukumisa Iintliziyo

UPETER GYABI

WAZALWA Ngowe-1932

WABHAPTIZWA Ngowe-1965

INGXELO YOBOMI Umdala owayeguqulela iincwadi ngoxa umsebenzi wawuvaliwe. Yena nomfazi wakhe, uEsther, banabantwana abane abasele bebadala.

◼ UKUFIKA kwabathunywa bevangeli bokuqala bamaNgqina kaYehova eUganda, kwakugquba ubuhlanga kwelo, yaye inkoliso yabamhlophe yayizinxwema kwabantsundu. Uthando lokwenene lwaba bathunywa bevangeli lwazichukumisa iintliziyo zethu, yaye sasibathanda ngokwenene.

Kwiminyaka yee-1970, intsapho yethu yayikunandipha ukunxulumana nokushumayela nabathunywa bevangeli, ababehlala kumgama oziikhilomitha ezingama-65 ukusuka eMbarara. Ngenye imini, imoto yethu yamiswa ngamajoni ngoxa sasisiya kubo. Elinye lala majoni lathi: “Ukuba anifuni kufa, ndinicebisa ukuba nijike.” Oko kwabonakala kulicebiso elihle. Noko ke, njengoko iintsuku zaziqengqeleka, saya sibaxhalabela ngakumbi abathunywa bevangeli. Sasifuna ukuya kubo ukuze sibone ukuba baphila njani. Ukhuseleko lwaluluqilima kuloo mmandla, kodwa ndancedwa kukusebenzisa igunya endandinalo lokulawula isibhedlele kunye nesticker sasesibhedlele esasisemotweni ukuze ndivunyelwe ukudlula. Savuya kakhulu sakufika abathunywa bevangeli bekhusulekile. Sabathengela ukutya saza sahlala nabo iintsukwana. Emva koko, samana sibatyelela veki nganye de bakwazi ukufudukela eKampala. Njengoko iimeko zazisiya zisiba mandundu, kwaba kukhona luqina ngakumbi umanyano lwethu lobuzalwana.

[Ibhokisi/Umfanekiso okwiphepha 82]

“Ndandicinga Ukuba Andinakukwazi Ukuthetha Nabantu”

UMARGARET NYENDE

WAZALWA Ngowe-1926

WABHAPTIZWA Ngowe-1962

INGXELO YOBOMI Ngudade wokuqala waseUganda owamkela inyaniso. Waba nguvulindlela othe ngxi ngaphezu kweminyaka engama-20. Usengumvakalisi okhutheleyo nangoku.

◼ UMYENI wam wayesinandipha isifundo seBhayibhile awayesiqhutyelwa nguMzalwan’ uKiIminster, ngoko ekubeni ndandiyithanda iBhayibhile, wayevakalelwa kukuba nam ndimele ndifundelwe. Ngoko kwacelwa umfazi kaJohn Bwali, uEunice, ukuba andifundele.

Ndandizithanda izinto endandizifunda, kodwa ndandisoyika ukushumayela kwabanye. Ndandineentloni, ngoko ndandicinga ukuba andinakukwazi ukuthetha nabantu. Kodwa uEunice wandincekelela, waqala ngokundinceda wandifundisa ukusebenzisa isibhalo esinye entsimini. Ngoko, sasisithi xa sisaya kwenye indlu, andifundise indlela yokucacisa eso sibhalo. UYehova wandinceda ndayeka ukuba neentloni.

Kungekudala ngaphambi kokuba ndibhaptizwe, ndadana xa umyeni wam eyinikel’ umva inyaniso endishiya nabantwana bethu abasixhenxe. Sekunjalo, abazalwana noodade baba luncedo gqitha; ngokomoya nangokwenyama, kum nakubantwana bam. Esinye isibini esasivela kwelinye ilizwe nesasihlanganyela eKampala sasidla ngokudlula ekhaya, silayishe mna nabantwana xa sisiya ezintlanganisweni. Into endivuyisa gqitha kukuba abantwana bam abane neentsapho zabo bakhetha ukukhonza uYehova.

Ekugqibeleni, ndaba nguvulindlela othe ngxi. Ndathi ndakuhlaselwa sisifo samathambo esabangela ukuba kube nzima ukuhamba, ndabeka itafile eneencwadi ngaphandle komzi wam ukuze ndithethe nabantu abadlulayo. Oko kwandinceda ndakwazi ukuhlala ndikwinkonzo yexesha elizeleyo.

[Ibhokisi/Imifanekiso ekwiphepha 98, 99]

UThixo Wawusikelela Umsebenzi Wethu Wokwenza Abafundi

USAMUEL MUKWAYA

WAZALWA Ngowe-1932

WABHAPTIZWA Ngowe-1974

INGXELO YOBOMI Kangangeminyaka uSamuel ebemela intlangano kwezomthetho, yaye ebengumdala novulindlela.

◼ ANDINAKUZE ndiyilibale into eyenzekayo xa ndandikhenketha kwiofisi yesebe laseKenya eliseNairobi.

Njengoko ndandibuka imaphu yelizwe laseUganda ndabuza: “Ngabantoni aba notaka bamibala-bala?”

URobert Hart, olilungu leKomiti yeSebe laseKenya wathi: “Ezi ziindawo ezinabantu abaninzi abanomdla.”

Ndisalatha kwidolophu yam i-Iganga ndambuza: “Niza kubathumela nini oovulindlela apha?”

Wathi: “Akukho mntu uza kuthunyelwa.” Emva koko, wandiqwabazel’ iliso wathi, “Kuza kuya wena.”

Yandimangalisa le mpendulo yakhe kuba ndandingengovulindlela yaye ndandingasahlali nalapho. Noko ke, ndahlala ndicinga ngale nto yaye emva kokufumana umhlala-phantsi ndagqiba kwelokuba ndibuyele ekhaya ukuze ndibe nguvulindlela othe ngxi. Kwandivuyisa gqitha ukubona iqaqobana labavakalisi lisanda lisiba libandla elikhulu elineHolo yoBukumkani.

Xa kwathunyelwa uPatrick Baligeya ukuba aye kuba nguvulindlela okhethekileyo eIganga, sahlala kunye sisebenza njengoovulindlela. Sasilima nombona ukuze sizixhase. Ntsasa nganye sasixubusha itekisi yosuku size emva koko siye kusebenza kwintsimi yombona iiyure ezimbalwa. Lalithi ke xa liqina ilanga siye kushumayela imini yonke.

Njengoko wawukhula umbona, abanye abamelwane bathi lo msebenzi wethu wokushumayela ubangela ukuba singawunanzi umbona wethu. Sasisazi kakuhle ukuba umbona ufuna ukugadwa kwiinkawu xa untshula izikhwebu. Sekunjalo, sasingafuni ukuyeka isivuno sethu sokomoya ngenxa yeenkawu.

Kungekudala emva koko, sabona izinja ezimbini ezinkulu zizula-zula kuloo ntsimi. Nakuba sasingazi ukuba zivela phi okanye zezikabani na, kunokuba sizigxothe sasizipha ukutya namanzi yonk’ imihla. Njengoko zazizula kuloo ntsimini yethu iinkawu zazingabonakali nangetshengele. Kwala ke emva kweeveki ezine zanyamalala, kodwa ngelo xesha umbona wethu wawungasekho ngozini. Sambulela gqitha uThixo ngeso sivuno sininzi sasinda ezinkawini, singasathethi ke ngokusisikelela kwakhe ngesokomoya.

[Ibhokisi/Umfanekiso okwiphepha 101, 102]

Ndandingaphaya Kwezitshixo Kodwa Ndaxhaswa

UPATRICK BALIGEYA

WAZALWA Ngowe-1955

WABHAPTIZWA Ngowe-1983

INGXELO YOBOMI Waba kwinkonzo yexesha elizeleyo kungekudala emva kokuba ebhaptiziwe. Waba ngumveleli ohambahambayo nomfazi wakhe uSymphronia.

◼ KWATHI kwakungena urhulumente omtsha ezintanjeni ngowe-1979 bonke abantu ababexhasa urhulumente wangaphambili baya kuvalelwa. Kwakhutshwa isaziso sokuba nabani na ophikisanayo noko wayeya kugqalwa njengotshaba lorhulumente omtsha. Ekubeni ndandiyimvumi yasemkhosini, nam ndaya kuvalelwa.

Ngoxa ndandivalelwe ndandivuyiswa yinto yokuba ndikwazi ukufundisisa iBhayibhile yonke imihla. Ngapha koko, ndandifuna inyaniso yaye ndandithanda ukuncokola ngeBhayibhile namanye amabanjwa. Kuloo ntolongo kwakukho uJohn Mundua owayeliNgqina likaYehova, owayebanjwe kuba nje wayesebenzela urhulumente wabe engowohlanga elalityholwa ngokuxhasa urhulumente wangaphambili.

UJohn wandishumayeza ndaza ndazamkela iindaba ezilungileyo. SasineeMboniselo ezili-16 kuphela nencwadi ethi Good News—To Make You Happy,c kodwa ndakhawuleza ndabona ukuba yinyaniso leyo ndandiyifunda. Emva kokufunda iBhayibhile kangangeenyanga ezintathu uJohn wabona ukuba ndiyakufanelekela ukuba ngumvakalisi. Kungekudala emva koko, zosulwa zonke izityholo awayetyatyekwa zona waza wakhululwa. Ngoku yayingasekho indlela yokunxibelelana nentlangano kaYehova. Sekunjalo, ndasala ndiqhubela abantu abanomdla izifundo entolongweni.

Ndakhululwa ngo-Oktobha 1981, ndaza ndabuyela ekhaya, apho kwakungekho maNgqina. Izalamane zam zazama ukundinyanzela kwizinto ezizenzayo zonqulo. Noko ke, uYehova wayebona ukuba ndifuna ukumkhonza waza wandixhasa. Ndandisazi ukuba ndifanele ndinyathele emanyathelweni kaYesu, ngoko ndaqalisa ukushumayela ndedwa yaye kungekudala ndaba nezifundo ezininzi. Ekhupha incwadi ethi Inyaniso Ekhokelela Kubomi Obungunaphakade omnye umninimzi wathi: “Le nto uyithethayo iyafana nale ndiyifunde kule ncwadi.”d Le ndoda yayingenamdla kangako, ndabe mna ndinomdla wokufunda loo ncwadi yayo kunye nenqwaba yeeMboniselo eyayinazo. Ngoko yaba yiyo endihambisela uncwadi.

Kodwa kwakusafuneka ndifumane amanye amaNgqina. UMzalwan’ uMandua wakha wandixelela ukuba akho amaNgqina eJinja. Ngoko ndagqiba ekubeni ndiye kuwafuna. Emva kokuba ndithandaze phantse ubusuku bonke, ndavuka ngenj’ ixukuxa ndaya kuwafuna ndingakhange ndifake nto emlonyeni. Umntu wokuqala endadibana naye wayephethe iplastiki okwaziyo ukubona into engaphakathi kuyo. Andizange ndikholelwe xa ndabona uVukani! kuloo plastiki. Ndimfumene umzalwana wam!

Ngowe-1984 ndaya kwiklasi yokuqala yeSikolo Senkonzo Yobuvulindlela eUganda. Ngaba uyazi ukuba ngubani omnye owayekweso sikolo? YayinguJohn Mandua uqobo. Nangona sele ineminyaka engama-74 ubudala, le nkonde isenguvulindlela othe ngxi unanamhla.

[Imibhalo esemazantsi]

[Ibhokisi/Umfanekiso okwiphepha 113]

Wada Walufumana Unqulo Lokwenyaniso

Omnye udade wacela umthunywa wevangeli, uMats Holmkvist, ukuba aye kuthetha noMutesaasira Yafesi owayengumfundisi waseSabatha. Ngoku wayenomdla kumaNgqina kaYehova yaye wabhala phantsi imibuzo elungiselelwe kakuhle engama-20. Xa kwafika uMats, wamnika loo mibuzo.

Emva kwengxubusho yeBhayibhile eyathabatha iiyure ezimbini, uMutesaasira wathi: “Ndicinga ukuba ndide ndalufumana unqulo lokwenyaniso! Ndicela uze apho ndihlala khona. Kukho abanye abantu abafuna ukwazi ngakumbi ngamaNgqina kaYehova.”

Kwiintsuku ezintlanu kamva, uMats nomnye umthunywa wevangeli bakhwela isithuthuthu baya kuMutesaasira owayehlala eKalangalo—ekumgama oziikhilomitha ezili-110, behamba kwiindlela ezimbi ezinodaka nezidlula kumasimi eti. Bamangaliswa yindlu efulelwe ngengca awabasa kuyo eMutesaasira eyayinombhalo othi “IHolo YoBukumkani.” Wayesele elungiselele indawo yokuqhuba isifundo seBhayibhile neentlanganiso.

Kwakukho nabanye abalishumi ababenomdla ngenxa yenyaniso abayiva ngoMutesaasira. Kwaqaliswa izifundo zeBhayibhile, yaye uMats wayengatyhafiswa kukuhamba umgama omde, kunoko wayeqhuba izifundo kabini ngenyanga. Ezo zifundo zeBhayibhile zenza inkqubela. EKalangalo, kwabakho abavakalisi abangaphezu kwabangama-20 yaye kukho ibandla elikhulayo kwidolophu ekufuphi yaseMityana. Ngelo xesha, uMutesaasira wenza inkqubela yokomoya ngokukhawuleza waza wabhaptizwa. Ngoku ukwiminyaka yama-70 ubudala yaye ungumdala.

[Isicangca/Igrafu ekwiphepha 108]

ULUHLU LWEZIGANEKO​—EUganda

1930

Ngowe-1931 URobert Nisbet noDavid Norman bashumayela eMpuma Afrika.

1940

1950

Ngowe-1950 AbakwaKilminster bafudukela eUganda.

Ngowe-1952 Kusekwa ibandla lokuqala.

Ngowe-1956 Ubhaptizo lokuqala eUganda.

Ngowe-1959 Abazalwana abasuka kwamanye amazwe banikela uncedo lokomoya.

1960

Ngowe-1963 Kufika abathunywa bevangeli baseGiliyadi.

Ngowe-1972 Indibano yesithili yokuqala.

Ngowe-1973 AmaNgqina kaYehova avalwa umlomo yaye abathunywa bevangeli bayagxothwa.

Ngowe-1979 Umsebenzi uyavulwa kwakhona.

1980

Ngowe-1982 Abathunywa bevangeli bavunyelwa ukuba baphinde bangene kweli lizwe.

Ngowe-1987 IMboniselo iguqulelwa kwisiLuganda.

Ngowe-1988 Kunikezelwa iHolo yoBukumkani yokuqala.

1990

2000

Ngowama-2003 Kumiselwa iofisi yesebe.

Ngowama-2007 Kunikezelwa isebe elitsha.

2010

[Igrafu]

(Yiya kwimpapasho)

Inani Labavakalisi

Inani Loovulindlela

5,000

3,000

1,000

1930 1940 1950 1960 1980 1990 2000 2010

[Iimaphu ezikwiphepha 73]

(Ukuba ufuna inkcazelo ehlahlelwe kakuhle, yiya kwimpapasho)

DEMOCRATIC REPUBLIC OF THE CONGO

SUDAN

KENYA

UGANDA

KAMPALA

Arua

Gulu

Lira

Soroti

Lake Kyoga

Masindi

Hoima

Mbale

Tororo

Namaingo

Iganga

Jinja

Seta

Kajansi

Entebbe

Mityana

Kalangalo

Fort Portal

Rusese

Lake Albert

Ruwenzori Mts.

Equator

Lake Edward

Masaka

Mbarara

Kabale

KENYA

LAKE VICTORIA

TANZANIA

BURUNDI

RWANDA

UGANDA

KAMPALA

KENYA

NAIROBI

Meru

Mt. Kenya

Mombasa

TANZANIA

DAR ES SALAAM

Zanzibar

[Umbhalo ochaza umfanekiso okwiphepha 87]

(Ukuba ufuna inkcazelo ehlahlelwe kakuhle, yiya kwimpapasho)

UGANDA

KAMPALA

LAKE VICTORIA

Arua

Gulu

Lira

Masindi

Soroti

Hoima

Fort Portal

Masaka

Mbarara

Kabale

[Umfanekiso]

UMzalwan’ uHardy nomfazi wakhe bakhenketha phantse yonke iUganda ngeeveki ezintandathu

[Umfanekiso ozalise iphepha, kwiphepha 66]

[Umbhalo ochaza umfanekiso okwiphepha 69]

UDavid Norman noRobert Nisbet baya kushumayela iindaba ezilungileyo eMpuma Afrika

[Umfanekiso okwiphepha 71]

UGeorge noRobert Nisbet noGray no-Olga Smith neekhombi zabo zilungele ukuweliswa umlambo

[Umfanekiso okwiphepha 75]

UMary noFrank Smith, ngaphambi nje kokuba batshate ngowe-1956

[Umfanekiso okwiphepha 78]

UAnn Cooke nabantwana bakhe kunye noMzalwana noDade Makumba

[Umfanekiso okwiphepha 80]

UTom noBethel McLain baba ngabathunywa bevangeli abaqeqeshwe eGiliyadi bokuqala ukuthunyelwa eUganda

[Umfanekiso okwiphepha 81]

Ikhaya labathunywa bevangeli lokuqala eJinja

[Umfanekiso okwiphepha 83]

Abathunywa bevangeli abaqeqeshwe eGiliyadi uBarbara noStephen Hardy

[Umfanekiso okwiphepha 85]

UMary Nisbet (ophakathi) noonyana bakhe uRobert (ekhohlo), uGeorge (ekunene), kunye noWilliam nomfazi wakhe, uMuriel (ngasemva)

[Umfanekiso okwiphepha 89]

UTom Cooke enikela intetho kwiNdibano YeSithili ‘Yolawulo LukaThixo’ eKampala

[Umfanekiso okwiphepha 90]

UGeorge noGertrude Ochola

[Imifanekiso ekwiphepha 94]

Phezu kwako nje ukuvalwa umlomo, abazalwana baqhubeka behlanganisana kunye

[Umfanekiso okwiphepha 95]

UFred Nyende

[Umfanekiso okwiphepha 96]

UEmmanuel Kyamiza

[Umfanekiso okwiphepha 104]

UStanley Makumba nomfazi wakhe, uEsinala, ngowe-1998

[Umfanekiso okwiphepha 107]

UHeinz noMarianne Wertholz kwiklasi yokuqala yeSikolo saseGiliyadi esaqhutyelwa eJamani

[Imifanekiso ekwiphepha 118]

Amaqela Abaguquleli

ElesiLuganda

ElesiAcholi

ElesiLhukonzo

ElesiRunyankore

[Imifanekiso ekwiphepha 123]

IiHolo zoBukumkani zale mihla zahluke ngokupheleleyo kwezokuqala (ekhohlo)

[Imifanekiso ekwiphepha 124]

Isebe LaseUganda

IKomiti Yesebe: uMats Holmkvist, uMartin Lowum, uMichael Reiss noFred Nyende; isakhiwo seofisi (ezantsi) nesakhiwo ekuhlalwa kuso (ekunene)