I-Uganda

KWAPHELA iminyaka abahloli bamazwe becinga isizalo soMfula omkhulukazi iNayile, ogwinciza e-Afrika uze uyothela oLwandle LwaseMedithera. Ekugcineni, abanye abahloli baphetha ngokuthi iLake Victoria nezintaba eziseduze nayo yisona sizalo samanzi angashi omfula iNayile. Eminyakeni yamuva, abantu bakhona abaningi baye bajabulela ukuthola umthombo wamanzi ayigugu nakakhulu—“amanzi aphilayo” anikeza “ukuphila okuphakade.” (Joh. 4:10-14) Lona umlando wabantu base-Uganda ‘abebomele ukulunga.’—Math. 5:6.

“IPARELE LASE-AFRIKA”

I-Uganda ingenhla nangezansi kwenkabazwe maphakathi ne-Afrika futhi iyizwe elihle elinesimo sezulu esincwaba. Izinguzunga zamaqhwa ezilé phezulu eziNtabeni iRuwenzori—ezibizwa ngokuthi iziNtaba Zenyanga—ziyancibilika zibe amanzi acwebile ehlela emifuleni nasemachibini amaningi. Inhlabathi evundile nemvula eningi yenza i-Uganda ibe indawo enhle yokutshala ikhofi, itiye nokotini. Ukhova uyinala futhi kwenziwa i-matooke ngawo, okunye kokudla okukhonziwe e-Uganda. Abantu balapha badla nomdumbula, impuphu, unyaluthi namabele.

Kuleli zwe elishisayo kunamabhubesi, izindlovu, izimvubu, izingwenya, izingwe, izindlulamithi, izinyamazane, ama-chimpanzee, izinhlobonhlobo zezinkawu ezihlekisayo kanye nama-gorilla asezintabeni asengozini yokuqothulwa. Kuzwakala umculo omtoti wezinyoni ezinhle. Ngempela i-Uganda yinhle kakhulu kangangokuthi iye yabizwa ngokuthi “iparele lase-Afrika.”

ABANTU ABAHLE BASE-UGANDA

Kunabantu abangaba izigidi ezingu-30 bamaqembu obuzwe angaba ngu-30. Abaningi bayayithanda inkolo futhi basonta emasontweni eLobukholwa; kodwa kwezinye izindawo bathi besonta bebe benza namasiko athile enkolo yendabuko. Abantu base-Uganda banomusa futhi bayaphana, kuvamile ukuba umuntu aguqe lapho ebingelela noma enikeza umuntu omdala okuthile.

Ngokudabukisayo, ngawo-1970 nawo-1980, leli “parele” elihle nabantu bakhona abayigugu balimala kakhulu futhi bahlukumezeka ngenxa yezinxushunxushu zezombusazwe nangenxa yenqwaba yabantu abafa. Ngaphezu kwalokho, ubhadane lwengculaza luye lwanezela osizini lwase-Uganda. OFakazi BakaJehova baye babalethela induduzo nethemba laba bantu abakwazi ukubhekana nalezi zimo ezinzima.

AMAPHAYONA ANGEMPELA

Umbiko wokuqala womsebenzi wokushumayela ngoMbuso e-Uganda owango-1931, ngesikhathi kuseyihhovisi legatsha laseNingizimu Afrika eliqondisa umsebenzi wokushumayela kulo lonke elase-Afrika eseningizimu yenkabazwe. Ukuze kuqalwe umsebenzi wokushumayela kule nsimu enkulu, ihhovisi labela amaphayona amabili, uRobert Nisbet noDavid Norman, ukuba ayoshumayela endaweni manje eyaziwa ngokuthi iKenya, i-Uganda neTanzania.

AbaFowethu uNisbet noNorman babezimisele ukuyoshumayela izindaba ezinhle zoMbuso phakathi emajukujukwini e-Afrika. Baqala umkhankaso wabo eDar es Salaam ngo-August 31, 1931, bephethe amabhokisi ezincwadi angu-200. Basuka lapho balibangisa esiqhingini saseZanzibar, base beya ethekwini laseMombasa bedlula beya ezinkangala zaseKenya. Babehamba ngesitimela, beshumayela emadolobheni agudle ujantshi empumalanga yeLake Victoria. Ngemva kokuba la maphayona amabili anesibindi ewele leli chibi ngomkhumbi, afika eKampala, inhloko-dolobha yase-Uganda. Sebehambise izincwadi eziningi bathola nezikhokhelo ze-Golden Age, laba bazalwane ababili baqhubeka ngemoto bangena phakathi nezwe.

Ngemva kweminyaka emine, ngo-1935, amaphayona amane aseNingizimu Afrika athatha olunye uhambo lokuya eMpumalanga ye-Afrika. KwakunguGray Smith nomkakhe, u-Olga, kanye noRobert Nisbet nomfowabo omncane uGeorge. La maphayona ashisekayo ayehamba ngamaveni afakwe izinto ezidingekayo ukuze abuye abe yizindlu zokuhlala, ehamba emigwaqweni emibi futhi ehamba kanzima ngenxa yesikhotha esasingamamitha amathathu ubude. “Ayevame ukulala endle,” kusho omunye umbiko, “azibonela futhi azizwela ukuthi kunjani ngempela ukuba se-Afrika enezilwane zasendle eziningi—amabhubesi abhongayo ebusuku, amadube aziklabela ngokuthula, izindlulamithi, obhejane nezindlovu ezithusayo.” Ngesibindi ahambela amadolobha ayengakaze asizwe isigijimi soMbuso.

Njengoba uGray no-Olga Smith babeseTanganyika (manje iTanzania), uRobert noGeorge Nisbet baya eNairobi, eKenya. Kamuva, lapho iziphathimandla zaleli koloni zixosha abakwaSmith eTanganyika, baya eKampala, e-Uganda. Kepha manje izimo zazingasezinhle futhi amaphoyisa aseKampala ayebagade ngeso lokhozi. AbakwaSmith abadikibalanga, bahambisa izincwadi nezincwajana ezingu-2 122 ngezinyanga ezimbili nje kuphela, bahlela nokuba kube nemihlangano yeningi eyisithupha. Kodwa ekugcineni umbusi wabaxosha e-Uganda. Baya eNairobi, bahlangana nabazalwane bakwaNisbet ngaphambi kokuba babuyele eNingizimu Afrika.

Le mikhankaso yokushumayela yaba impumelelo ngenxa yesibusiso sikaJehova, futhi kwanikezwa ubufakazi obuhle kakhulu. Naphezu kokuphikiswa inkolo nokucindezela okwandayo kweziphathimandla zaleli koloni, amaphayona asakaza izincwadi ezingaphezu kuka-3 000 nezincwajana ezingaphezu kuka-7 000, ngaphandle kwezikhokhelo eziningi azithola. Ngemva kwale mikhankaso, kwadlula iminyaka eminingi ngaphambi kokuba umsebenzi wokushumayela uphinde uqalwe e-Uganda.

UMSEBENZI UQALWA KABUSHA

Ngo-April 1950 kwafika umbhangqwana osemusha waseNgilandi uzohlala eKampala, uMfowethu noDade Kilminster. Bashumayela izindaba ezinhle ngomdlandla futhi bathokoza lapho imikhaya emibili, ongamaGreki nongamaNtaliyane, yamukela isigijimi soMbuso.

Kwathi ngo-December 1952 abaFoweth’ uKnorr noHenschel basendlunkulu yoFakazi BakaJehova eNew York, bavakashela eNairobi, eKenya. UMfoweth’ uKilminster wayengafuni ukuphuthelwa ithuba lokubabona, ngakho waya eNairobi esuka eKampala. AbaFoweth’ uKnorr noHenschel bakhuthaza iqembu elincane elalilapho futhi bahlela ukuba kumiswe ibandla eKampala. Lelo bandla elalisanda kumiswa laqala ukuthola imiphumela emihle, futhi ngonyaka wenkonzo ka-1954, bayishumi abamemezeli abahlanganyela enkonzweni.

Ngawo lowo nyaka, u-Eric Cooke, wasehhovisi legatsha laseNingizimu Rhodesia (manje iZimbabwe), wavakashela eMpumalanga ye-Afrika, wathi ukuhlalahlala nebandla elisha eKampala. Nakuba abafowethu basijabulela isifundo sebandla se-Nqabayokulinda samasonto onke, babengakhuthele kangako enkonzweni yobuKristu. Ngakho uMfoweth’ uCooke wakhuthaza uMfoweth’ uKilminster ukuba aqhube yonke imihlangano yebandla, kuhlanganise noMhlangano Wenkonzo wamasonto onke. Ukuze umsebenzi wokushumayela ufinyelele nakwezinye izindawo, uMfoweth’ uCooke wagcizelela inkonzo yendlu ngendlu futhi ngothando waqeqesha iningana labamemezeli.

Kuze kube yileso sikhathi, kwakushunyayezwa ikakhulu abamhlophe ababehlala e-Uganda. Kodwa uMfoweth’ uCooke waphawula ukuthi iningi labantu bendabuko e-Uganda abahlala eKampala babekhuluma isiLuganda. Wasikisela ukuthi ukuze kufinyelelwe izinhliziyo zabantu bendawo, kwakudingeka ukuba abafowethu bahumushe incwadi ethile ngesiLuganda. Ngo-1958 abamemezeli baqala ukusebenzisa incwajana entsha ethi “Lezi Zindaba Ezinhle ZoMbuso.” Yeka ukuthi kwabafaka umfutho kanjani lokho! Umsebenzi waqhubeka, kwathi ngo-1961 inani elisha labamemezeli boMbuso abangu-19 lahlanganyela enkonzweni.

Emsebenzini wakhe wokuziphilisa, uMfoweth’ uKilminster watholana noGeorge Kadu, owomdabu wase-Uganda owayesanda kuhlanganisa iminyaka engu-40 futhi esikhuluma kahle isiNgisi nolimi lwakubo, isiLuganda. Isithakazelo sikaGeorge eqinisweni lemiBhalo savuswa ukuzwa ukuthi igama likaNkulunkulu uJehova, wayeseqala ukufunda iBhayibheli. Ngokushesha wayesehamba noMfoweth’ uKilminster endlini ngendlu ukuze amtolikele. Kwathi ngo-1956, lapho kubhapathizwa abantu bokuqala e-Uganda eLake Victoria eduze kwase-Entebbe, uGeorge wabonakalisa ukuzinikezela kwakhe kuJehova.

Ngeshwa, akuphelanga sikhathi umsebenzi woMbuso waqala ukucikiza futhi. Abanye abazalwane basemazweni angaphandle baphindela emazweni enkaba yabo lapho izimvume zomsebenzi ziphelelwa isikhathi. Abazalwane abambalwa basuswa, abaningana bakhutshwa ukuziphatha kwabanye ebandleni okuphambene nemiBhalo. Kepha uMfoweth’ uKadu yena wayemthanda uJehova futhi azi ukuthi ulitholile iqiniso. Wabambelela kulo ‘ngenkathi evumayo nangenkathi enzima’ futhi wakhonza ngokwethembeka njengomdala waze washona ngo-1998.—2 Thim. 4:2.

UKUKHONZA LAPHO INDINGEKO INKULU KHONA

Insimu eseMpumalanga ye-Afrika yayinkulu nesidingo sabashumayeli boMbuso sisikhulu. Kwakunenye futhi inselele. Uhulumeni waleli koloni wawungafuni ukungenisa izithunywa zevangeli kule ndawo. Kwakuzokwenziwa njani?

Ngo-1957 kwacelwa abamemezeli emhlabeni wonke ukuba bayokhonza lapho kunendingeko enkulu khona. Abazalwane abavuthiwe ngokomoya bakhuthazwa ukuba bathuthele lapho kunendingeko enkulu khona yabamemezeli boMbuso. Lesi simemo sasifana naleso umphostoli uPawulu asizwa embonweni lapho indoda ethile inxusa: “Welela eMakedoniya usisize.” (IzE. 16:9, 10) Lesi simemo sosuku lwanamuhla sayithinta kanjani intuthuko yomsebenzi wokushumayela ngoMbuso e-Uganda?

UFrank noMary Smith bamukela lesi simemo ngomoya ofana noka-Isaya futhi baqala ngaso leso sikhathi ukulungiselela ukuthuthela eMpumalanga ye-Afrika.a (Isaya 6:8) Ngo-July 1959 basuka eNew York baya eMombasa badlula eCape Town. Base beya eKampala ngesitimela, lapho uFrank athola khona imvume yokusebenza njengomthaki wemithi osebenzela uMnyango kahulumeni obizwa ngokuthi iGeological Survey. AbakwaSmith bahlala endaweni engamakhilomitha angu-35 eningizimu yeKampala e-Entebbe, idolobha elihle elisogwini lweLake Victoria elalingakasitholi isigijimi soMbuso. Babeya njalo emihlanganweni yebandla elincane kodwa elalikhula eKampala.

Ngokushesha abakwaSmith bashumayeza uPeter Gyabi, owayenesikhundla esiphakeme kuhulumeni wase-Uganda, nomkakhe, u-Esther. Ngaphambili, uPeter wayethole incwadi ethi INkolo Isenzeleni Isintu?b kodwa wangayinaka ngoba wayematasa nomsebenzi wokuziphilisa futhi ezishintshashintsha njalo izindawo asebenzela kuzo. UPeter wabe esejutshwa ukuba ayolamula engxabanweni eshubile yamaqembu amabili ayebanga indawo. Wathandaza, “Nkulunkulu, uma ungangisiza, ngizokukhonza.” Ngemva kokuba le ngxabano isixazululwe ngokuthula, wakhumbula umkhuleko wakhe futhi waqala ukufunda le ncwadi. Wabona ukuthi ayekufunda kwakuyiqiniso wayeseqala ukufuna oFakazi. Yeka indlela ayejabule ngayo ngokuhlangana noFrank Smith, owavuma ukufundela yena nomkakhe iBhayibheli! Ngenxa yalokho, lo mbhangqwana othandekayo wabhapathizwa, futhi usengabamemezeli boMbuso abakhuthele namanje, ngemva kweminyaka engaphezu kuka-40 yenkonzo yokwethembeka.

Abanye abafowethu bakwamanye amazwe nabo basabela obizweni lokuba bayokhonza lapho kunendingeko enkulu khona. Abanye bathola izimvume zokusebenza ezabayisa kude neqembu elincane labamemezeli beBandla LaseKampala. Omunye umbhangqwana wahlala eMbarara, idolobha elincane elisemagqumeni aseningizimu-ntshonalanga ye-Uganda, indawo eqhele ngamakhilomitha angaba ngu-300 eKampala. Wahlela ukuba kuqhutshwe iSifundo Se-Nqabayokulinda nesencwadi emzini wawo. Nokho, wawudamane uya eKampala noma e-Entebbe ukuze ujabulele ubudlelwane obufudumele namaKristu. Wawulokhu uxhumana nehhovisi legatsha eLuanshya, eNyakatho Rhodesia (manje iZambia), elaliqondisa umsebenzi wokushumayela ngoMbuso eMpumalanga ye-Afrika ngaleso sikhathi. UHarry Arnott, owayeqondisa lelo gatsha, wakhonza njengombonisi wamagatsha futhi waya eKampala eyokhuthaza idlanzana labamemezeli e-Uganda. Lakwazisa kakhulu ukukhathalela kwakhe kothando.

Omunye umbhangqwana owawunesifiso esinamandla sokukhonza lapho kunendingeko enkulu khona yabashumayeli boMbuso kwakunguTom no-Ann Cooke baseNgilandi. UTom wafaka isicelo somsebenzi emazweni amaningi, wathola umsebenzi njengesikhulu sezemfundo eMnyango Wezemfundo e-Uganda. Umsebenzi wakhe waqale wamyisa edolobhaneni lase-Iganga, elisendaweni ecishe ibe ngamakhilomitha angu-130 empumalanga yeKampala, ehamba nomkakhe u-Ann nendodakazi yabo eneminyaka emine uSarah. Ngemva kokuzalwa kukaRachel, indodakazi yabo yesibili, uTom nomkhaya wakhe bathuthela eJinja, idolobha elisendaweni eyaziwa ngokuthi yisizalo seNayile. Kamuva, bathuthela eKampala.

UKUZIDELA NEZIBUSISO

Yeka iqhaza elabanjwa yile mikhaya emsebenzini wokushumayela ngoMbuso e-Uganda! Yiqiniso, yayishiye indlela yokuphila eyayiyijwayele kanye nezinto ezenza ukuphila kube lula. Kodwa ngenxa yalokho, yathola injabulo yokubona abantu abaphansi beguqula indlela yabo yokuphila futhi bamukela izindaba ezinhle zoMbuso. Bazibonela nesibopho esiqinile sothando lobuKristu esakheka phakathi kwemikhaya yabo nemikhaya yendawo njengoba babehlangana ndawonye ngenjongo yokukhulekela nokubungazana.

“Yayisihlaba umxhwele inhlonipho esasiyiboniswa ensimini nesizotha sabantu,” kukhumbula uTom Cooke. “Ukubamba iqhaza elincane ekwandeni kwebandla kwakuyilungelo elikhethekile.”

Lapho ebuzwa ukuthi uzizwa kanjani ngokuthuthela kuleli zwe, uTom uthi: “Ayikho enye indawo engcono esasingakhonza kuyo uJehova nezingane zethu ezincane. Sasinesibonelo esihle sabafowethu nodadewethu ababevela emazweni amaningi, ubungane babafowethu bendawo abanothando nabaqotho, amalungelo acebile enkonzo, ukungatholi ithonya lethelevishini nokubona izimangaliso zasemaphandleni ase-Afrika. Yizibusiso ezimbalwa nje lezi kwesazithola.”

Ukwazisa okujulile kwalabo abakhonza lapho kunendingeko enkulu khona ngokuhlangana namaKristu kwabonakala nasekuzimiseleni kwabo ukuya kude le eKenya emihlanganweni yesifunda. Kwakuwuhambo lwamakhilomitha angu-750 ukuya uma uhamba ngebhasi noma ngesitimela!

Imihlangano yesigodi yona yayidinga umzamo omkhulu nakakhulu. Ngokwesibonelo, ngo-1961 abazalwane base-Uganda naseKenya baya emhlanganweni wesigodi eKitwe, eNyakatho Rhodesia (iZambia). “Kwakuwuhambo lwezinsuku ezine olungamakhilomitha angaphezu kuka-1 600 emigwaqweni emibi kakhulu eTanganyika (eTanzania)—iningi layo elaliwubhuqu,” kukhumbula omunye owayekhona, “bese kuba ezinye izinsuku ezine sihamba elangeni elichochobalisayo nasezintulini ezinkangala zase-Afrika sesibuyela e-Uganda. Kwakuwuhambo olumnandi, futhi ukuba nabafowethu nodade abaningi kangaka kwakuyisibusiso esikhulu.” Lolu hambo lwalukhathaza futhi ludinga umzamo omkhulu, kodwa yeka indlela olwaluqabula ngayo ngokomoya!

IZITHUNYWA ZEVANGELI ZENZA UMSEBENZI OBALULEKILE

Ngo-1962, i-Uganda yaphuma ngaphansi kweBrithani. Ngonyaka olandelayo uMfoweth’ uHenschel wavakashela eNairobi, eKenya, wafike wakhuluma ngokuthumela izithunywa zevangeli e-Uganda. Obani ababezothunyelwa lapha?

UTom noBethel McLain basekilasini lama-37 laseGileyadi babesanda kufika bezokhonza eNairobi. Yeka indlela abamangala ngayo lapho sebabelwa eKampala! Kodwa balamukela ngezinhliziyo ezivumayo lolu shintsho, baba izithunywa zevangeli zokuqala eziqeqeshwe eGileyadi e-Uganda. “Ekuqaleni sasikhumbula eKenya,” kuvuma uTom, “kodwa sasheshe sakuthanda ukuba se-Uganda—abantu abanobungane nendlela ababesabela ngesasasa ngayo emsebenzini wokushumayela.”

UTom noBethel babekade befunda isiSwahili eKenya, kepha manje kwase kudingeka bafunde olunye ulimi—isiLuganda. Babengenalutho lokubasiza ngaphandle kokuba bazibambe ziqine, bancike kuJehova futhi basebenzise incwadi “yokuzifundisa” ulimi. Ngenyanga yokuqala bese-Uganda, bachitha amahora angu-250 befunda ulimi lwabo olusha, ngenyanga yesibili bachitha angu-150. Ngaphezu kwala mahora, babechitha amanye ayikhulu enkonzweni yasensimini. Kancane kancane balufunda ulimi lwabo olusha futhi bathola imiphumela emihle enkonzweni yabo.

Ngo-January 1964, kwafika uGilbert noJoan Walters bephuma ekilasini lama-38 laseGileyadi, baba kanye noTom noBethel. Eminye imibhangqwana emibili eyayikulo leli kilasi, uStephen noBarbara Hardy noRon noJenny Bicknell, yayabelwe eBurundi eseduzane kodwa ngenxa yezinkinga zama-visa, nabo babelwa e-Uganda. Ngesikhashana nje, eKampala kwase kudingeka elinye ikhaya lezithunywa zevangeli.

Alisoze lalibaleka ibandla laseKampala. LalinoMfoweth’ uKadu nomkhaya wakhe; uJohn no-Eunice Bwali, umbhangqwana ongamaphayona akhethekile waseNyakatho Rhodesia, nezingane zawo; uMargaret Nyende nezingane zakhe. Imihlangano yayiqhutshelwa endaweni evulekile. “Abadlulayo babesibona futhi basizwe, yize sasimbalwa,” kukhumbula uGilbert Walters. “AbakwaBwali yibona ababehola ekuhubeni izingoma zoMbuso ngaphandle kwezinsimbi zomculo, abantu besibuka. Kwasinika isibindi sokuqhubeka.”

Kungakabiphi, uGilbert noJoan Walters babelwa ukuba bavule ikhaya lezithunywa zevangeli eJinja, lapho kwakungakashunyayelwa khona ngendlela ehleliwe. Kamuva, kwavulwa amanye amakhaya amabili ezithunywa zevangeli—elinye liseMbale, eduze komngcele weKenya, elinye liseMbarara. Izithunywa zevangeli kula makhaya zasebenzisana namaphayona akhethekile amaningana ayevela kwamanye amazwe. Kwakusobala ukuthi amasimu “asemhlophe alungele ukuvunwa.” (Joh. 4:35) Kodwa yini eyayingenziwa ukuze kusheshiswe umsebenzi wokubutha?

KUHLELWA KANGCONO

Izikhonzi zesikhathi esigcwele e-Uganda zazama ukuyihlanganisa ngendlela ehlelekile insimu yazo enkulu. Phakathi nesonto zazishumayela emalokishini, lapho imigwaqo nemizi kunamagama nezinombolo. Kodwa zazizowahlanganisa kanjani amasimu amigwaqo yawo ayinamagama nezindlu azinazinombolo?

“Insimu sayihlukanisa ngamagquma,” kuchaza uTom McLain. “Ababili babehamba ngapha kwegquma, ababili bahambe ngale kwalo. Sasilandela izindlela, sikhuphuke sibuye sehle egqumeni size sihlangane sobane.”

Abafowethu bakwamanye amazwe basheshe basizakala ngokwanda kwenani loFakazi bokuzalwa e-Uganda ababeyazi insimu futhi bewaqonda amasiko endawo. Abamemezeli bendawo nabo bazuza okuhlangenwe nakho okuwusizo kubafowethu nodade bakwamanye amazwe. Ngokwesibonelo, eJinja abafowethu base-Uganda base behamba nezithunywa zevangeli ensimini. NgamaSonto babeqala ngomsebenzi wendlu ngendlu ngo-8:00 ekuseni kuze kube u-10:00 ekuseni. Ngemva kwalokho, babechitha ihora benza izimpindelo bese beqhuba izifundo zeBhayibheli kuze kube semini. Ngale ndlela, bonke ebandleni babezuza emakhonweni nasesikhuthazweni somunye nomunye.

EJinja, okwakuyidolobha lesibili ngobukhulu kuleli zwe, kwakunesiteshi esiphehla amandla kagesi, futhi ngenxa yalokho, kwakuyindawo ekahle yezimboni. Izithunywa zevangeli zaziphumelela kakhulu ekufakazeni esikhumulweni samatekisi namabhasi esasiphithizela. Abantu ababevela ezindaweni ezikude babezamukela ngokukhulu ukuzimisela izincwadi zeBhayibheli ukuze bazifunde endleleni. Ngaleyo ndlela, imbewu yoMbuso yayisakazwa ezindaweni ezikude naseduze emaphandleni.

Abafowethu babesebenzisa nomsakazo ukuze badlulisele izindaba ezinhle kubantu abaningi ngangokunokwenzeka. Njalo ngesonto babesakaza uhlelo olunesihloko esithi “Izinto Abantu Abacabanga Ngazo.” Babethula izihloko ezishukumisa ingqondo ezinjengesithi “Ukubhekana Nosizi Ekuphileni Komkhaya” nesithi “Indlela Yokuzivikela Ebugebengwini Nasebudloveni.” Kwakuba yingxoxo phakathi kukaMnu. Robbins noMnu. Lee. Omunye wabafowethu uyakhumbula: “Kwakuhlekisa ukulalela lolu hlelo bese uzwa izwi lomMelika nelomuntu waseScotland esiteshini somsakazo sase-Afrika. Sasiye sizwe abantu bekhuluma ngalolu hlelo ensimini, okubonisa ukuthi lwaluwusizo.”

KUSIZWA ABASHUMAYELI ABASHA

Ngaleso sikhathi iqembu laseJinja laliqhubela imihlangano yalo ehholo lomphakathi elokishini elikhulu, iWalukuba. “Abazalwane abaningi babebasha,” kukhumbula uTom Cooke, “futhi benezincwadi ezimbalwa ababengalungiselela ngazo izabelo zabo zemihlangano.” Kwakuzokwenziwa njani?

“Izithunywa zevangeli zenza umtapo emzini womzalwane owayehlala maphakathi nelokishi,” kukhumbula uTom. “Njalo ngoMsombuluko kusihlwa ababenezabelo babeya kulo mtapo, bafike bathole usizo ngezabelo zabo zezinkulumo.” Manje kunamabandla amaningana eJinja athola ukuthi ukudoba ngokomoya kusaphumelela namanje kulesi sizalo esiyinhloko seNayile.

ABABONISI ABAJIKELEZAYO BAKHUTHAZA UKUKHULA NGOKOMOYA

Ngo-September 1963, umsebenzi wokushumayela e-Uganda waqondiswa igatsha laseKenya elalisanda kumiswa, futhi uWilliam noMuriel Nisbet babelwa ukuba bavakashele e-Uganda njengengxenye yesifunda sabo esiseNairobi. UWilliam wayehamba ezinyathelweni zabafowabo abadala ababehlahle indlela, uRobert noGeorge, ababeshumayele e-Uganda eminyakeni engu-30 ngaphambili. Abamemezeli manje base bezuza emsebenzini onzima weqembu lesibili labakwaNisbet.

Isithakazelo sasikhula, kuvulwa amaqembu engeziwe, nabamemezeli besakazeke ezindaweni eziningi. Ngakho, ukuhambela kwabajikelezi kwafeza lukhulu ekuqeqesheni, ekukhuthazeni nasekuqinisekiseni abafowethu nodadewethu basezindaweni ezicezile ukuthi “amehlo kaJehova aphezu kwabalungileyo.”—1 Pet. 3:12.

Ngo-1965, uStephen noBarbara Hardy bavakashela amabandla ayesesifundeni esasiqala e-Uganda siye eSeychelles, okuyiqoqo leziqhingi eziqhele ngamakhilomitha angu-2 600 e-Indian Ocean. Bake bathatha “uhambo lokuhlola” baya e-Uganda ukuze bathole ukuthi amaphayona ayengayitholaphi imiphumela emihle kakhulu. Behamba ngeKombi yakwaVolkswagen ababeyitshelekwe igatsha laseKenya ukuze bahambe ngayo futhi balale kuyo, bacishe balihamba lonke elase-Uganda ngamasonto ayisithupha nje kuphela, behambela amadolobha aseMasaka, eMbarara, eKabale, eMasindi, eHoima, eFort Portal, e-Arua, eGulu, eLira naseSoroti.

“Lolu hambo lwaluvusa amadlingozi,” kukhumbula uMfoweth’ uHardy, “kanti nokushumayela kwakumnandi. Bonk’ abantu, kuhlanganise neziphathimandla zendawo, babewusizo futhi benomusa. Izikhathi eziningi lapho sifika emzini womuntu sizoxoxa naye, kwakujika kube ‘inkulumo yeningi’ ngoba kwakufika omakhelwane nabantu abadlulayo bazolalela esikushoyo. Ngisho nalapho sima endaweni esasicabanga ukuthi ayinamuntu, kwakuvele kuqhamuke abantu abamomothekayo, bebona ukuthi siyizivakashi. Izincwadi zaziphela ubuthaphuthaphu. Sahambisa izincwadi ezingaba ngu-500 sathola nezikhokhelo eziningi ze-Nqabayokulinda ne-Phaphama!”

Ubungane, ilukuluku nokuthanda inkolo kwabantu base-Uganda kwabonakala kuyinkomba yokuthi baningi abantu ababezokwamukela iqiniso. Okubaluleke nakakhulu, abakwaHardy bathokoza kakhulu lapho bebona isibusiso sikaJehova emsebenzini wokushumayela kule nsimu evundile.

UJEHOVA UYAKHULISA

Ingqopha-mlando kubantu bakaJehova e-Uganda yaba ngo-August 12, 1965, lapho kubhaliswa i-International Bible Students Association, okwenza waqashelwa ngokomthetho umsebenzi wethu wokwenza abafundi. Abafowethu base-Uganda abanhliziyo ziqotho—njengoGeorge Mayende, uPeter no-Esther Gyabi, no-Ida Ssali—bakha iqembu elincane kodwa eliqinile lezingqalabutho zoFakazi phakathi nawo-1960. Ngo-1969, i-Uganda yabika abamemezeli abangu-75 ababephakathi kwabantu abayizigidi ezingaba ngu-8, okuyisilinganiso sabantu abangaphezu kwezinkulungwane eziyikhulu kuFakazi oyedwa. Ngo-1970, inani labamemezeli lase lande laba ngu-97, laba ngu-128 ngo-1971. Ngo-1972 kwakunoFakazi BakaJehova abakhuthele abangu-162 e-Uganda.

Nakuba ukwanda kwakukhuthaza, abafowethu babazi ukuthi amandla babengawatholi emananini abo andayo, kodwa babewathola ‘kuNkulunkulu okhulisayo.’ (1 Kor. 3:7) Ababengakwazi ukuthi iminyaka yawo-1970 yayiza nezinguquko ezinkulu ekuphileni kwabo nokuvivinywa kokholo okunzima. Ukuketulwa kukaJenene Idi Amin ngo-1971 kwalandelwa uhulumeni wobushiqela owahlukumeza izigidi zabantu futhi kwafa izinkulungwane. Uhulumeni wawulokhu ulwa namaqembu ayewuphikisa. Ngezikhathi ezithile, imingcele yamazwe angomakhelwane yayivalwa. Kwakumiswa umthetho wewashi. Abantu baqala ukunyamalala. Abanye babegadiwe. Abafowethu nodadewethu abathanda ukuthula e-Uganda babezosabela kanjani kulezi zinxushunxushu, ukwesatshiswa nobudlova?

“UKUBUSA KWAPHEZULU” NOMA UKUBUSA KOMUNTU?

Ngaso leso sikhathi, kwakwenziwa amalungiselelo oMhlangano Wesigodi ‘Wokubusa Kwaphezulu’ ka-1972 eKampala, okwakuwumhlangano wesigodi wokuqala e-Uganda. Izihambeli zazizobe zisuka eKenya, eTanzania nakude lé eTopiya. Babezobhekana kanjani nokungezwani okwakufufusa, izingxabano zezombusazwe nezobuzwe ezazanda nokuwela imingcele okwakwesabisa? Ingabe kwakufanele ungabe usaba khona umhlangano? Abafowethu bathandaza ngobuqotho ngale ndaba, benxusa isiqondiso sikaJehova emalungiselelweni omhlangano nasezihambelini zawo.

Kamuva, isimo sabonakala siyingozi nakakhulu lapho izihambeli zomhlangano zifika emngceleni zibona izixuku zabantu zihamba kuleli zwe! Iningi lalihamba ngoba uhulumeni exoshe bonke abantu abadabuka e-Asia abangezona izakhamuzi—ikakhulu amaNdiya nabasePakistan. Abaningi, njengothisha ababevela kwamanye amazwe, babehamba ngoba besaba ukuthi kukhona okusina kujeqeza nezinye izizwe. Naphezu kwalokho, ababeze emhlanganweni babelokhu bethelekile. Babezothola kunjani edolobheni njengoba kwakuxabene ubendle kwezombusazwe?

Isimanga ukuthi bathola ukuthula eKampala, abafowethu nabantu abathakazelayo belinde izivakashi zabo ngenjabulo endaweni yomhlangano. Bamangala nalapho bezwa ukuthi iziphathimandla zazivumile ukuba kubekwe indwangu enkulu emgwaqweni ophithizelayo eKampala ibhalwe usuku nendawo yomhlangano. Kulesi sikhathi sezinxushunxushu ezazingakaze zibe khona, kwakunesihloko senkulumo yeningi sibhalwe ngokugqamile: “Ukubusa Kwaphezulu—Ukuphela Kwethemba Laso Sonke Isintu”!

Isimiso sethulwa ngempumelelo ngaphandle kwezithikamezo, kunenani eliphakeme labangu-937—ingqopha-mlando ekukhulekeleni kweqiniso e-Uganda. Ngemva kwalokho, nakuba izihambeli zakwamanye amazwe zalibaziseka emngceleni, intshiseko yazo ayidambanga futhi zonke zafika emakhaya ziphephile. Nakuba isimo sezombusazwe sasingazinzile, abantu bakaJehova ngesibindi babekwenze kwacaca ukuthi basohlangothini loMbusi wabo. Futhi kulesi sikhathi esibucayi, uNkulunkulu wayemise abantu bakhe “isibindi ngezikhwepha.”—IHu. 138:3.

Phakathi kwabazalwane base-Uganda ababa khona kwakunoGeorge noGertrude Ochola. “Kwakuwumhlangano wami wokuqala ngqa lowo,” kukhumbula uGertrude, “futhi ngabhapathizwa kuwo!” UGeorge yena wayengakabi uFakazi. Wayezifela ngebhola likanobhutshuzwayo futhi wayefuna ukuthi uma esenkundleni yemidlalo, abukele imidlalo. Noma kunjalo, ukuziphatha okuhle komkakhe nokutadisha kwakhe iBhayibheli kwagcina kumshukumisele ekubeni abonise ukuzinikezela kwakhe ngobhapathizo lwamanzi eKenya ngo-1975.

UGertrude ukhumbula ukuthi wayephakathi kwabokuqala abathola iqiniso enyakatho ye-Uganda. Uthi: “Lapho ngibhapathizwa ngo-1972, ngangicabanga ukuthi ngihlala emajukujukwini. Manje sekuneHholo LoMbuso lapha, kanye nekhaya lezithunywa zevangeli nehhovisi labahumushi. Lokhu kungijabulisa ngisho nangaphezu kwangamhla ngibhapathizwa!”

‘INKATHI ENZIMA’

Ngo-June 8, 1973, ngaphandle kwesixwayiso, umsakazo nethelevishini kwamemezela ukuthi izinkolo ezingu-12, kuhlanganise noFakazi BakaJehova, sezivaliwe. Uhulumeni omusha wawenze abantu besaba futhi bangabathemba abanye, uqambela abantu bakwamanye amazwe ngokuthi bayizimpimpi. Kwaya kuba nzima ngezithunywa zevangeli ukuba zihlanganyele enkonzweni yasobala. OFakazi BakaJehova e-Uganda base bengene ‘enkathini enzima’ kakhulu. (2 Thim. 4:2) Kwakuzokwenzekani kubo?

Imibhangqwana emibili eyizithunywa zevangeli yayisihambile kakade kuleli zwe ngalowo nyaka ngoba izicelo zayo zokunweba isikhathi zenqatshwa. Maphakathi no-July, izithunywa zevangeli ezingu-12 ezazisele zase zixoshwe zonke. Abafowethu bakwamanye amazwe ababezokhonza lapho indingeko inkulu khona bakwazi ukuhlala isikhashana ngenxa yemisebenzi yabo yokuziphilisa, kodwa nabo abahlalanga sikhathi esingakanani. Ngonyaka olandelayo, bonke baxoshwa.

‘ABAGXILILE NABANGENAKUNYAKAZISWA’

Kuyaqondakala ukuthi abamemezeli base-Uganda ababesele babedabukile ngokuhamba kwabafowabo nodadewabo ababathandayo. Kodwa ngamandla kaJehova bazibonakalisa ‘bengabagxilile nabangenakunyakaziswa.’ (1 Kor. 15:58) Ubuqotho babo babonakala empendulweni engananazi yomzalwane oseyikhehla, u-Ernest Wamala, lapho etshelwa ukuthi oFakazi BakaJehova base bevinjelwe. Wabuza, “Bangayivimba kanjani into ekweyami inhliziyo?”

Abadala base-Uganda, njengoGeorge Kadu noPeter Gyabi, babezokwenzenjani manje njengoba base behambe bonke abadala ababevele kwamanye amazwe? Ingokomoya labo elijulile nokuqonda kwabo amasiko endawo kwaba isibusiso. UMfoweth’ uGyabi uyachaza: “Ukuze umuntu angene eqinisweni futhi akhonze uJehova e-Uganda, kudingeka ukuzithiba okukhulu ukuze akwazi ukushiya amasiko angqubuzana nezindinganiso zikaJehova. Ukuzikhuza kwakubaluleke ngokukhethekile kubafowethu abaholayo okwakudingeka bancike kuphela eziqondisweni zenhlangano kaJehova ezibhalwe phansi.” Ukutadisha ngokucophelela kwabadala bendawo kwabasiza bagwema ukudukiswa ukuhlakanipha kwabantu okunephutha. Ngenxa yalokho, le nkathi enzima yaba yisikhathi senqubekela-phambili ngokomoya kubantu bakaJehova, yangababuyisela emuva.

Ngakolunye uhlangothi, abantu babeqhubeka bezizwa bengalondekile. Abaningi babehlukunyezwa, abanye besaba amasosha. Ukukhohlakala kwakuthé bhe, okwabangela ukuwa kwezomnotho. Leli zwe elihle laliwohloka. Ingabe izinceku zikaJehova ezithembekile e-Uganda zazizoqhubeka zithola izizathu zokwethaba phakathi nale nkathi enzima?

IMIHLANGANO EJABULISAYO

Uhulumeni wenza okusemandleni awo ukuze uvimbe yonke imibuthano yezombusazwe eyayibonakala isongela umbuso. Nakuba oFakazi BakaJehova babengathathi hlangothi nhlobo, babewuhlonipha nomyalo weBhayibheli othi bangakuyeki ukuhlangana ndawonye ukuze bakhuthazane. (Heb. 10:24, 25) Kwakudinga isibindi namasu ukuze baqhubeke behlangana ndawonye bebe begadwe iziphathimandla ezingabethembi. Izinceku zikaNkulunkulu zazingakugwema kanjani ukuzidonsela amehlo ngesikhathi zihlangene ngenjongo emsulwa?

Okokuqala, bahlela kabusha imihlangano yaba ngamaqembu amancane emizini yabazalwane. Lapho behlangene bebaningi, babeshaya sengathi benza ipikiniki. Ngokwesibonelo, lonke ibandla lalihlangana kanye ngenyanga libe nenkulumo neSifundo Se-Nqabayokulinda. Abafowethu babehlela ukuba kube nepikiniki epaki noma egcekeni lothile. Leli su lasebenza kahle kubantu base-Uganda abathanda abantu, ababengakuboni kuxaka ukuba iqembu labangane noma izihlobo lihlangane lizijabulise. Ngaphandle kokufika namaBhayibheli nezincwadi zabo bezifihlile, abafowethu babekwazi nokuphatha konke okwakudingeka epikinikini, ngisho nokudla osekuphekiwe! Imihlangano enjalo yabenza bacabanga indlela okumelwe ukuba ama-Israyeli ayeyijabulela ngayo imikhosi yawo yokukhulekela.—Dut. 16:15.

Phakathi naso sonke isikhathi sokuvinjelwa, imihlangano yesifunda efushanisiwe yayiqhutshwa ngale ndlela. Naphezu kwemizamo kahulumeni yokubavimba, abafowethu abazange bayeke ukuhlangana ndawonye noma ukushumayela izindaba ezinhle. Abanye abafowethu baze bakwazi nokuya emihlanganweni yesigodi eNairobi futhi lapho bebuya baxoxa ngokuhlangenwe nakho kwabo okumnandi.

‘BAQAPHA NJENGEZINYOKA KODWA BABA MSULWA NJENGAMAJUBA’

Abafowethu abanemithwalo yemfanelo babenesizathu sokukholelwa ukuthi uma ‘beqaphe njengezinyoka kodwa babe msulwa njengamajuba,’ babengeke bavinjelwe ngokuphelele futhi nemisebenzi engokwasezulwini yayingaqhubeka. (Math. 10:16) Ngakho amaphayona akhethekile aqhubeka ngokuqapha ezabelweni zawo nabamemezeli baqhubeka nenkonzo yendlu ngendlu.

Njengokulindelekile, akubona bonk’ abantu ababethokoza lapho bebona oFakazi BakaJehova emizini yabo. Langa limbe ngawo-1970, uPeter Gyabi wayesensimini nomfana okuthiwa uFred Nyende. UFred wayewusana ngenkathi unina ethola iqiniso ngo-1962. Kusukela ngaleso sikhathi, wayeseye wakhula futhi ukuvuthwa kwakhe kwase kuzovivinywa.

Umninikhaya owayethukuthele—cishe owayeyiphoyisa elingagqokile iyunifomu—waqaphela ukuthi abafowethu bangoFakazi BakaJehova. Wababopha wabaphonsa emotweni yakhe. Babesaba kufanele ngoba izinkulungwane zabantu ababethathwe kanje babevele banyamalala. Kwakuvamile nokuba bahlukunyezwe nganoma yisiphi isizathu, ngisho noma singekho. Endleleni eya emaphoyiseni, uPeter noFred baba nesikhathi sokuthandaza kuJehova bacele amandla ukuze behlise umoya futhi bahlale bethembekile. Lo mlisa wabayisa kumphathi wakhe, wabamangalela futhi wabahloma imibuzo. UPeter noFred bazibonela ukuba yiqiniso kwamazwi ezAga 25:15: “Umlawuli unxenxwa ngesineke, nolimi olumnene lungaliphula ithambo.” Ngenhlanhla, akukho thambo langempela elaphulwa ngalelo langa. Incazelo kaPeter emnene yokugcina kwethu umthetho nokunamathela kwethu ezimfundisweni zeBhayibheli, kanye nenhlonipho nezimpendulo zabafowethu, kwamthambisa umphathi. Umphumela waba yini?

Lo mphathi akagcinanga nje ngokudedela uPeter noFred osemncane kodwa futhi wathi leli phoyisa elalibabophile alibaphindisele ensimini! Labaphindisela ngokuzihudula kwazise lase liphoxekile, abafowethu babonga uJehova ngokudedelwa kwabo.

Ezinye izigameko zokunqwamana namaphoyisa zazingezimbi kangako. Ngokwesibonelo, u-Emmanuel Kyamiza nomkakhe babeqhubela imihlangano emzini wabo e-Entebbe, kube khona umkhaya wabo neqenjana labathakazelayo. Ukuze kungasolisi, u-Emmanuel wayezishintsha izindawo ayeqhubela kuzo izifundo zeBhayibheli. Ngemva kwesikhathi, waphetha ngokuthi indlela yakhe yokudukisa umkhondo yayimsebenzela. Ngolunye usuku, lapho esesiphethile isifundo seBhayibheli ayesiqhubela e-Entebbe Botanical Gardens, memfu iphoyisa njengoba esazama ukufihla izincwadi zakhe. “Uzifihlelani izincwadi zakho?” kubuza iphoyisa. “Siyazi ukuthi wenzani. Siyazi ukuthi unguFakazi KaJehova. Sazi nalapho nihlangana khona. Ukube besifuna ukukubopha, ngabe kade sakubopha. Kodwa ungaqhubeka ngale ndlela obuwenza ngayo.” Waqhubeka nangempela u-Emmanuel—ngokukhulu ukwethembeka!

Kamuva, lapho esethathe umhlalaphansi futhi waphindela endaweni yakubo, wakhuthazelela ukuphikiswa nokuhlekwa okukhulu. NjengoJesu, ‘wayengahlonishwa endaweni yakubo.’ (Marku 6:4) Noma kunjalo, u-Emmanuel waqhubeka “echuma nasebumpungeni,” ngisho esevile eminyakeni engu-70, futhi wayevame ukushova ibhayisikili lakhe amakhilomitha angu-30 eya futhi ebuya emihlanganweni. (IHu. 92:14) Namuhla, nakuba esezohlanganisa iminyaka engu-90, usakhonza ngokwethembeka njengenceku ekhonzayo, yize engasahambi kakhulu ngebhayisikili.

AMAPHAYONA AKHUTHAZELAYO

Naphezu kokwesaba okuqhubekayo, babehlale bekhona abambalwa abathola indlela yokuhlanganyela enkonzweni yamaphayona. Elinye iphayona elalinomusa ngalesi sikhathi kwakunguJames Luwerekera, umhloli wokuma kwendawo owayeqashwe uhulumeni, owabhapathizwa ngo-1974. Ngemva nje kokubhapathizwa kwakhe, waba umlimi ukuze ashumayeze abantu bangakubo. Umkakhe naye wathi ukufunda isikhashana, kodwa ngokuhamba kwesikhathi, washushisa uJames.

Ngokwesibonelo, ngelinye ilanga ekuseni kusemnyama, uJames nabanye abazalwane bahamba baya emhlanganweni wesigodi eNairobi. Lapho imoto yabo imiswa amaphoyisa, abafowethu baphawula into exakile ezingutsheni zikaJames—zazingameshi futhi zimmpintsha. Waqale wazincokolela wathi yingoba ugqoke esephuthuma kumnyama. Kodwa lapho abangane bakhe bemphenyisisa, wavuma ukuthi umkakhe wayefihle izingubo zakhe zasesifundweni ukuze amvimbe angayi emhlanganweni. Ngakho waphoqeleka ukuba adonse noma yiziphi izingubo ayengazithola. Abangane bakaJames baba nomusa bamnikeza ezinye zezingubo zabo, wafika emhlanganweni egqoke ngendlela efanele.

Ngezinye izikhathi ukuphikiswa kukaJames emzini wakhe nasendaweni kwakumane kuyisenzo nje esiyisiphazamiso esingatheni. Ngezinye izikhathi kwakushuba. Kodwa kwaqhubeka iminyaka. Phakathi naso sonke leso sikhathi, uJames wabekezela ngobumnene futhi wazakhela umlando wokwethembeka kwaze kwaba sekufeni kwakhe ngo-2005. Abazalwane basalutusa namanje ukholo lwakhe futhi akuthandabuzwa ukuthi noNkulunkulu wakhe, uJehova, usalukhumbula.

‘UMFOWABO WOMUNTU OZALELWE ISIKHATHI SOSIZI’

“Umngane weqiniso ubonisa uthando ngaso sonke isikhathi, futhi ungumfowabo womuntu ozalelwe isikhathi sosizi.” (IzAga 17:17) Abafowethu baseKenya bazibonisa bengabangane beqiniso phakathi nosizi nezingozi ezakhuthazelelwa oFakazi base-Uganda ngawo-1970. Ababonisi abajikelezayo nabameleli bamagatsha babedinga isibindi ukuze bawele umngcele bangene e-Uganda bayosekela futhi bakhuthaze abafowabo nodade abathandekayo.

Ngo-1978 kwaqubuka udlame lwezombusazwe lapho iqembu lezempi lase-Uganda lihlasela eTanzania. Amasosha aseTanzania aphindisela ngokuketula uhulumeni wase-Uganda ngo-April 1979, okwaphoqa umashiqela wase-Uganda owayesatshwa, u-Idi Amin, ukuba abaleke. Ukuhamba ngokushesha kuka-Amin kwaletha izinguquko eziningi e-Uganda. Omunye umfowethu uthi: “Ukuhamba kuka-Amin kwaba ukuphela kokuvinjelwa.” I-Uganda Times yayinalesi saziso: “Izithunywa Zevangeli Zikhululekile Ukuba Zibuye.” Abantu bakaJehova baphinde bathola inkululeko yenkolo!

“NGISHO NOMA BEFUNA UKUNGIBULALA, NGIZOHAMBA”

Phakathi nesixakaxaka esalandela ukushintsha kukahulumeni, kwaba nobudlova e-Uganda yize yayisikhululekile. Ngenxa yokuthi kwase kukwampunz’ idla emini, kwabhoka ubugebengu nodlame. Noma kunjalo, ngaso leso sikhathi abafowethu basegatsheni laseKenya bahlela ukuba uGünter Reschke noStanley Makumba bavakashele e-Uganda futhi baqale ukuqhuba imihlangano yesifunda.

“Sekusele amasonto amabili sithathe lolu hambo lwangemva kwempi,” kukhumbula uGünter, “saqhuba isikole samaphayona eMeru, eduze kweNtaba iKenya. Ngikhumbula ngifunda ephephandabeni ngabantu abaningi ababebulawa eKampala, ikakhulu ebusuku. Ngemva kokufunda esinye isigaba, ngababaza: ‘Madoda, kuthiwa asiye endaweni enje ngesonto elizayo!’ Kodwa ngabe sengicabanga, ‘Ngifuna ukufana noJona yini ngibalekele isabelo sami?’ Ukwesaba kwaphela khona manjalo, ngase ngizitshela, ‘Ngisho noma befuna ukungibulala, ngizohamba. Ngeke ngibaleke njengoJona.’”

La bafowethu bahamba njengoba kwakuhleliwe, uStanley wahambela amabandla asemaphandleni, uGünter wakhonza asemadolobheni. Babika: “Kuningi okwakudingeka kuhlelwe kabusha ngemva kwempi. Cishe babengu-113 abamemezeli ababeshumayela e-Uganda ngaleso sikhathi. Bonke babejabula ngokuthi base bekwazi ukuhlangana ngenkululeko babe nomhlangano endaweni evulekile, futhi kwajabulisa ukubona kukhona abangu-241.” Nakuba imbewu yeqiniso yayigxotshiwe, kwakusobala ukuthi yayisengaziveza izithelo.

IZIKHATHI EZIYINGOZI

EMbale, eduze komngcele osempumalanga ye-Uganda, laba bazalwane ababili, uGünter noStanley, bapaka imoto yabo phambi komuzi ababefikele kuwo ebusuku. Ebusuku bezwa izigebengu zicwiya imoto yabo. UGünter wayesezozimemeza lezi zigebengu ngesikhathi ekhumbula ukuthi ekuqaleni kwalelo sonto, izigebengu zazidubule zabulala umuntu owayezame ukuziphazamisa lapho zigqekeza. Waphetha ngokuthi imoto ngeke iqhathaniswe nokuphila, wayesenquma ukuvele alale ngenxeba. Ekuseni bathola ukuthi kwakuntshontshwe amasondo amabili ne-windscreen yemoto. Babika emaphoyiseni, wona athi, “Yisuseni imoto ngaphambi kokuba izigebengu zibuye zizoyicwiya futhi!”

Ababange besapholisa maseko, basuka baya eKampala. Kodwa njengoba yayingasekho i-windscreen futhi kunengubo yokulala eyayembethwe uGünter nesigqoko sokuvikela uStanley njengoba lalina futhi kunomoya, uhambo lwamakhilomitha angu-250 oluya eKampala lwalungeluhle neze. Esikhundleni samasondo antshontshiwe, bafaka isondo eliyi-spare, kwase kudingeka baboleke elinye, nalo elaliphuma umoya. Bakhathazeka nakakhulu lapho bezwa ukuthi leli sondo abalibolekile kudingeka balibuyise ngemva kwezinsuku ezimbili! Abazalwane baminca benethemba lokuthi amasondo ngeke aphume umoya endleleni.

Kwakukubi nasendleleni ngoba kwadingeka bahambe emgwaqweni osehlathini owawudume ngokuba nezinswelaboya. Umuntu ababengenise kwakhe wayebadonse ngendlebe: “Ningatotobi endleleni, futhi ningavumeli moto inidlule.” Kwathi gidi kulaba bazalwane lapho befika bephephile eKampala—futhi bafika ngokushesha okukhulu. Empeleni nje bathi befika bathola umuntu owayezoliphindisela emuva eMbale isondo ababelitshelekile.

IZINSELELE NAMATHUBA AMASHA

Ngo-1980, ngesikhathi uMfoweth’ uReschke evakashele enhloko-dolobha yaseBrooklyn, eNew York, wacelwa ukuba anikeze umkhaya waseBethel umbiko ngokwakuqhubeka e-Uganda. Kamuva, amalungu eNdikimba Ebusayo athi athemba ukuthi izithunywa zevangeli zizophinde zithunyelwe e-Uganda. Bonk’ abantu bavuma ukuthi ngempela kwase kuyisikhathi sokuba kuthunyelwe izithunywa zevangeli. Imibuthano emikhulu yaphinde yaba khona, futhi ngo-1981 inani labamemezeli e-Uganda lase liphinde laba ngu-175. Empeleni, ngo-July wangalowo nyaka, e-Uganda kwahalaliselwa inani elisha sha labamemezeli abangu-206.

Ngokudabukisayo, ngenxa yezimpi zeminyaka eyishumi ngaphambili, izikhali neziqhumane zagcina zisezandleni zabantu abayizindlavini. Ukudubulana ngokuzuma nobugebengu kwakubhoke ngendlela emangalisayo. Ngokuqapha, abashumayeli bezindaba ezinhle bazama ukusakaza izincwadi zethu zeBhayibheli eziduduzayo kuyo yonke insimu, bahambisa isilinganiso somagazini abangu-12,5 ummemezeli ngamunye ngo-July. Nokho, kwabonakala ukuthi inkonzo yasensimini, njengezinye izici, kufanele yenziwe emini kuphela ngoba ebusuku ayemakhulu amathuba okuba abantu bahlukunyezwe. Naphezu kwezingozi, kwakubonakala ukuthi ukwanda kuzoba khona nakanjani.

IZITHUNYWA ZEVANGELI ZIYEMUKELWA FUTHI

UJeffrey Welch no-Ari Palviainen, abathweswa iziqu eGileyadi, bafika ngo-September 1982 eKampala bevela eKenya. UJeff no-Ari, njengoba babaziwa kanjalo, bathola imiphumela ejabulisayo. “Ngaleso sikhathi abantu babelambele izinto ezingokomoya,” kukhumbula uJeff, “ngakho omagazini, njengoba babenezihloko ezihehayo, babehamba kalula.”

Ngo-December, uJeff no-Ari bajoyinwa uHeinz noMarianne Wertholz bevela oPhikweni LweSikole SaseGileyadi, eWiesbaden, eJalimane. Befika nje, abakwaWertholz bahlatshwa umxhwele indlela abafowethu base-Uganda ababekwazi ngayo ukuphila emiphakathini ehlukumezekile neyingozi yase-Uganda.

UHeinz uyakhumbula: “Izinkonzo eziningi, njengokutholakala kwamanzi nezokuxhumana, zazingasebenzi. Isimo sezombusazwe sasilokhu simanzonzo. Kwakunamahlebezi okuketulwa kombuso, ziziningi nezindawo amasosha avimbe kuzo imigwaqo. Ukudutshulwa nokugetshengwa kwabantu kwakubhokile, ikakhulu ebusuku. Lapho kuhwalala, wawungatholi noyedwa umuntu emigwaqweni. Bonke abantu babehlala ezindlini benethemba lokuthi—futhi bethandazela—ukuba kuze kuse bengangenelwanga izigebengu.”

UHeinz noMarianne bacelwa ukuba bahlale noSam Waiswa nomkhaya wakhe ngesikhathi besacinga umuzi owawuzoba yikhaya lezithunywa zevangeli. Yize uSam ayenguthisha, izimo zomnotho kuleli zwe zazilinciphise kakhulu iholo lakhe, okwenza kwaba yisimanga ngempela ukungenisa izihambi komkhaya wakhe.

“Kwakunzima ukuthola indlu endaweni ephephile,” kusho uHeinz, “ngakho sagcina sesihlala emzini kaSam izinyanga ezinhlanu. Phakathi naleso sikhathi sazana kahle kakhulu. Ngezinye izikhathi umkhaya wakhe omkhulu wawudla kanye ngosuku, kodwa wawuhlale ujabule; izingane zilalela futhi zihlonipha. Ngenxa yokuthi amanzi ayengatholakali kahle edolobheni, kwakudingeka ukuba izingane zithwale izigubhu ezigcwele amanzi ezingamalitha angu-20. Lapho sifika ekhaya sivela ensimini, kwakuhlale kunamanzi asilindile. Nathi safunda ukuwonga. Ngokwesibonelo, sasigeza ngembijanyana yamanzi bese siwabeka ukuze siwasebenzise endlini yangasese.”

Ngo-April 1983, ngemva kweminyaka engaba yishumi izithunywa zevangeli zokuqala zixoshiwe e-Uganda, lezi ezine ezintsha zathola umuzi endaweni ephephile. Ukungalondeki nokuntuleka kokudla kwakudala izinselele eziningi, kodwa uthando lwabafowethu bendawo lwasivala kakhulu leso sikhala.

“Sasikujabulela njalo ukuxoxela abantu izindaba ezinhle,” kuchaza uMarianne. “Babeyithanda inkolo, iningi lineBhayibheli futhi bekuthanda ukuxoxa. Kwakulula ukuqala ingxoxo nabo futhi bengezona iziphoxi. Naphezu kwezinkinga zomnotho nezinye, babehlale bemomotheka.”

ASEBEKHULILE BAFUNA UKWENZA OKWENGEZIWE

Abaningi asebekhulile, abahlonishwa kakhulu esikweni lase-Uganda, bazamukele izindaba ezinhle futhi baye bakhonza uJehova sebekhulile. Ngokwesibonelo, uPaulo Mukasa, owayenguthisha, wayeneminyaka engu-89 lapho ethola iqiniso. Wayephila ngesikhathi sezimpi zomhlaba ezimbili, ekhona ngaphansi kombuso wamakoloni, ekhona ngesikhathi kubusa umashiqela onobudlova, nangesikhathi sezinye izinxushunxushu zezombusazwe futhi ezimisele ukufunda ngoMbuso kaNkulunkulu. Wajabula kakhulu lapho ezwa ukuthi iNkosi enguMesiya, uJesu Kristu, ‘iyokhulula ompofu nohluphekile ekucindezelweni nasebudloveni.’—IHu. 72:12, 14.

Lapho uPaulo esefanelekela ukubhapathizwa ngemva kweminyaka emibili, abafowethu bazibuza, ‘Sizomcwilisa ngempela emanzini umuntu osekhule kangaka?’ Kodwa kwakungadingeki bakhathazeke. Lapho osemusha owayezobhapathizwa esanqikaza ukungena emanzini, wangena uPaulo oneminyaka engu-91 waphuma emomotheka. Nakuba kwakungekuningi ayekwazi ukukwenza enkonzweni, wazihlanganyela ngentshiseko izindaba ezinhle zoMbuso nanoma obani ababemvakashela kwaze kwaba sekufeni kwakhe ngemva kweminyaka.

ULovinca Nakayima ngomunye owayengahlushwa nje kuphela ukukhula ngeminyaka kodwa futhi nempilo ebuthaka. Ngenxa yokugula, imilenze yakhe yayivuvukele kangangokuthi wayengakwazi kuya ndawo ngaphandle kosizo. Noma kunjalo, lapho ibandla likhuthazwa ukuba lingenele inkonzo yamaphayona asizayo inyanga eyodwa ngenkathi yeSikhumbuzo, uLovinca wafuna ukuzama. Ibandla lamsiza wakwazi ukuphayona ngokuthi liyofundela abantu abathakazelayo emzini wakhe. Izithunywa zevangeli zamfundisa nokubhalela abantu izincwadi, okuyinto ayengayenza ngendlela engeke imkhandle. Kwakuthi ngeMigqibelo umdala amyise endaweni yomphakathi enabantu abaningi eKampala, afike azihlalele kamnandi odongeni olufushane abese eshumayeza abantu abadlulayo usuku lonke. Ejabulile futhi anelisekile ekupheleni kwenyanga, uLovinca wathi, “Sengiyabona ukuthi ngingaphayona—ngikujabulele futhi!” Akabanga yiphayona elisizayo ngaleyo nyanga kuphela, kodwa izinyanga ezingu-11 zilandelana, esizwa yibandla!

“UTHINI UMA UFUNA UKUTHI . . . ?”

Phakathi nawo-1980, abamemezeli base-Uganda abazikhandlayo bamukela ngezandla ezifudumele izithunywa zevangeli ezinomdlandla ezazilokhu zithelekile. Ezinye zazisanda kuphothula eGileyadi, ezinye, ziphoqwe yisimo, zazizishiyile izabelo zazo eZaire (manje okuyiDemocratic Republic of the Congo). Ukwanda kwezithunywa zevangeli eKampala naseJinja kwenza ukuba asetshenzwe kahle wonke lawo masimu anabantu abaningi, futhi zakujabulela kakhulu ukuthola insimu yase-Uganda ilungele ukuvunwa. Empeleni inselele kwakungekona ukuthola isithakazelo kodwa ukusihlakulela.

Egcwele intshiseko ngenxa yokuqeqeshwa kwakhe izinyanga eGileyadi, uMats Holmkvist wayejahe ukufunda ulimi lwendawo ukuze ahlakulele isithakazelo sabantu eqinisweni. Ngalesi sikhathi uFred Nyende wayeyiphayona elikhethekile e-Entebbe, futhi walisebenzisa kahle ikhono lakhe lokuhumusha nokutolika ngokufundisa izithunywa zevangeli ezintsha ukukhuluma isiLuganda, ulimi olunamagama amaningi okunzima ukuwabiza. UMats wakuthola kunzima kakhulu ukufunda ulimi lwakhe olusha.

“Uthini uma ufuna ukuthi ‘uMbuso kaNkulunkulu’ ngesiLuganda?” kubuza uMats esanda kuqala nje ukufundiswa lolu limi.

“Obwakabaka bwa Katonda,” kuphendula uFred.

‘Angisoze ngakwazi ukusho le nto,’ kucabanga uMats, ezisola nangokuthi uwubuzile nokuwubuza lo mbuzo. Nokho, wathuthuka ngendlela emangalisayo futhi wasazi kahle isiLuganda.

ABABUTHWAYO BAYANDA

Naphezu kobunzima babantu base-Uganda ngawo-1980, iqiniso leBhayibheli lamukelwa ngendlela emangalisayo. Inani labamemezeli landa ngamaphesenti angaphezu kuka-130—lisuka ku-328 ngo-1986 laya ku-766 ngo-1990. Kwakuvulwa amaqembu amasha kulo lonke izwe. EKampala inani lamabandla laphindeka kabili. Ibandla laseJinja lajabulela ukubona inani labamemezeli liphindeka izikhathi ezingaphezu kwezintathu, ngesikhathi iqembu lase-Iganga lona liba ibandla.

Umdala waseJinja uyakhumbula: “Ukwanda kwakushesha kakhulu kangangokuba sasizibuza ukuthi bavelaphi bonke laba bamemezeli abasha. Kwake kwadingeka ukuba njalo ngeSonto sihlele isikhathi sokuhlangana nalabo ababefuna ukuba abamemezeli abangabhapathiziwe.”

UKUVUNA INSIMU ENKULU

Esinye sezici ezaba nomthelela ekwandeni okuphawulekayo kwakuwumoya omuhle wabazalwane wokuphayona. Njengabashumayeli bekhulu lokuqala uPawulu, uSila noThimothewu, izinceku zesikhathi esigcwele e-Uganda ‘zazinikela njengesibonelo sokulingiswa.’ (2 Thes. 3:9) Njengoba sasanda isidingo ensimini futhi kunezibonelo ezinhle kangaka, abamemezeli abaningi abashisekayo bashukumiseleka ukuba bandise inkonzo yabo. Abasha nabadala, abashadile nabangashadile, abesilisa nabesifazane, ngisho nabanye ababenemikhaya abayondlayo bangena ezinhlwini zamaphayona azikhandlayo. Ngokwesilinganiso, abamemezeli abangamaphesenti angaphezu kuka-25 bahlanganyela emkhakheni othile wenkonzo yamaphayona ngasekupheleni kwawo-1980. Abanye baye bakwazi ukuqhubeka enkonzweni yesikhathi esigcwele kuze kube manje.

Amaphayona ayeyisekela ngomdlandla imikhankaso yaminyaka yonke yokushumayela eyayibizwa ngokuthi imikhankaso yaseMakedoniya. (IzE. 16:9, 10) Leyo mikhankaso isaqhubeka. Amabandla ashumayela ensimini engabelwe noma engasetshenzwa njalo izinyanga ezingaze zibe ntathu. Ngaphezu kwalokho, amanye amaphayona avamile amiswa njengamaphayona akhethekile esikhashana emasimini anendingeko enkulu. Imiphumela iye yakhuthaza kakhulu. Abantu abaningi abaqotho baye bathi bayayazisa le mikhankaso, okuyiyona abathola ngayo iqiniso, futhi kuye kwamiswa amaqembu namabandla amaningi amasha.

Komunye umkhankaso, izithunywa zevangeli uPeter Abramow noMichael Reiss bashumayela edolobheni laseKabale bathola uMargaret Tofayo, owayekade efundelwa. Wayekholisekile ukuthi ayekufundisiwe kwakuyiqiniso, futhi wayesexoxa ngokwethukela nabanye ngezinkolelo zakhe. Ukuze zimsize, lezi zithunywa zevangeli zamnika ikhophi yazo okwakuwukuphela kwayo yencwadi ethi Ukubonisana NgemiBhalo. Lapho zimvakashela okokugcina uMargaret ngaphambi kokuba zihambe, wayezihlinzeke ngokudla okuphambili. Umusa nokupha kwakhe kwazithinta kakhulu kodwa zaba namahloni ngoba zaziqaphela ukuthi wayepheke inkukhu yakhe yokugcina. Zazazi ukuthi amaqanda ayechanyuselwa yile nkukhu ayenezela ekudleni komkhaya okuncane. Wathi: “Ningakhathazeki, nina ninginikeze okungaphezu kwalokhu kudla njengoba benilapha.” Wagcina ebhapathiziwe futhi waqhubeka engummemezeli oshisekayo waze wafa.

Ukwanda okusheshayo kubangelwa nayindlela enhle kakhulu abafowethu abasebenzisa ngayo izincwadi. “Yize sizama ukulola amakhono ethu njengabafundisi,” kusho uMats okukhulunywe ngaye ngenhla, “yiBhayibheli nezincwadi ezithinta abantu futhi zibashukumisele ekwenzeni izinguquko ekuphileni kwabo. Ngisho nalabo abangakwazi ukufunda kahle kodwa abomele iqiniso, izincwajana zethu eziwusizo zingazithinta izinhliziyo zabo.”

UKUBHEKANA NEZINGQINAMBA

Nokho, intuthuko ejabulisayo yangasekupheleni kwawo-1980 yayinezinselele. Ukuketulwa kombuso kwango-July 1985 kwaphumela ekubeni kubuse amasosha. Ezokuphepha zawohloka njengasekuqaleni, impi yabashokobezi yadlanga. Amasosha abalekayo asusa udlame, aphanga izindawo adubula nabantu ngaphandle kwesizathu. Impi yayidlange endaweni okwakuhlala kuyo izithunywa zevangeli eJinja. Ngelinye ilanga umuzi wazo waseshwa amasosha, kodwa lapho zithola ukuthi zingobani lezi zithunywa zevangeli, azenzanga monakalo, zathatha izinto ezimbalwa kakhulu. Kwathi ngo-January 1986 izintambo zathathwa omunye futhi umbuso, wazama ukubuyisela ukuthula ezweni.

Ngokushesha lo hulumeni omusha wabhekana nesitha esisha esiqothulayo—ingculaza. Lapho lolu bhadane luhlasela ngawo-1980, i-Uganda yayiphakathi kwezizwe ezithinteke kakhulu. Kucatshangwa ukuthi bayisigidi abantu abafa, cishe bangaphezu kwabafa ezinxushunxushwini zezombusazwe nasempini yombango yeminyaka engu-15. Lesi sifo sabathinta kanjani abafowethu?

Iphayona elivamile uWashington Ssentongo liyachaza: “Abanye abazalwane nodade ababesanda kuhlanganyela bangena eqinisweni ngenkulu intshiseko nomdlandla, kanti bazobulawa ingculaza. Babeyithole bengakalitholi iqiniso.” Abanye bayithola kubantu abashade nabo.

“Ngezinye izikhathi kwakuba sengathi ayipheli inyanga singezwanga ngomngcwabo womuntu esimaziyo nesimthandayo,” kusho uWashington, “futhi wonk’ umuntu wayeshonelwa ilungu lomkhaya. Kwakubuye kube nezinkolelo-ze eziningi ngengculaza. Abantu abaningi babeyihlobanisa nokuthakathwa nokuqalekiswa. Lo mbono oyiphutha wenza abantu besaba, babandlulula abanye, futhi bangawusebenzisa kahle nomqondo.” Noma kunjalo, abafowethu nodadewethu babeduduzana ngobuqotho ngethemba lovuko beqinisekisana nangothando lwabo lwangempela lobuKristu.

Njengoba iminyaka yawo-1980 yayisondela ekupheleni, isimo sabonakala sithembisa impela e-Uganda. Ezokuphepha zabuyela esimweni esihle nezomnotho zasimama. Izingqala-sizinda zathuthuka, kwavuselelwa noma kwaqalwa nezinhlelo zokusiza umphakathi.

Kepha njengoba abantu abaningi babegcizelela imibono yezombusazwe, ukungathathi hlangothi koFakazi BakaJehova kwakungaqondwa kahle ngezinye izikhathi. Ngesinye isikhathi iziphathimandla zavele zamisa ukwakhiwa kweHholo LoMbuso. Babenqatshelwa ukuqhuba eminye imihlangano emikhulu, futhi ezinye izithunywa zevangeli kwadingeka zihambe lapho izimvume zazo ziphelelwa isikhathi. Ekupheleni kuka-1991, kwase kusele abazalwane ababili kuphela abayizithunywa zevangeli. Yini eyayingenziwa ukuze kwenziwe ngcono isimo?

Ekugcineni, ithimba labafowethu lahlangana neziphathimandla liyochaza ukungathathi hlangothi kwethu. Lapho sezisiqonda isimo sethu, izithunywa zevangeli zavunyelwa ukuba zibuyele e-Uganda. Umsebenzi waqhubeka ngaphandle kwezithikamezo, kwathi ngo-1993, i-Uganda yajabulela ukubika abamemezeli abayinkulungwane. Ngemva kwalokho kwathatha iminyaka emihlanu kuphela ukuba ibe nabamemezeli boMbuso abangu-2 000. Sikhuluma nje kunezithunywa zevangeli ezingaba ngu-40 ezenza umsebenzi omuhle kuleli.

UKUHUMUSHA KUSHESHISA UMSEBENZI WOKUBUTHA

IsiNgisi sisetshenziswa ezweni lonke. Kepha isiLuganda yilona limi lwendawo olukhulunywa abantu abaningi, kuyilapho izizwe ezihlukahlukene zikhuluma izilimi ezingaphezu kuka-30. Ngakho isici esiyinhloko esibe nomthelela ekwandeni okusheshayo muva nje kube yinqubekela-phambili emsebenzini wokuhumusha.

“Nakuba umama ayengufakazi othembekile,” kusho uFred Nyende, “wayezuza ngokwengeziwe emihlanganweni uma ngimhumushela izihloko ezifundwayo ngizisuse esiNgisini ziye olimini lwesiLuganda. Engangingakwazi ukuthi ngangiqeqeshelwa umsebenzi wokuhumusha omkhulu nakakhulu kunalowo.” Wayesho ukuthini uFred?

Ngokushesha nje ngemva kokuqala ukuphayona ngo-1984, wacelwa ukuba afundise izithunywa zevangeli isiLuganda. Ngonyaka olandelayo wacelwa ukuba asebenze nabahumushi besiLuganda. Ekuqaleni, yena nabanye abahumushi babesebenzela emakhaya ngesikhathi sabo esikhululekile. Kamuva bakwazi ukusebenza ndawonye isikhathi esigcwele behumushela egunjini elincane elixhumene nekhaya lezithunywa zevangeli. Ngokuthakazelisayo, ngenkathi umsebenzi uvinjelwe maphakathi nawo-1970, ezinye iziNqabazokulinda zazihunyushelwe olimini lwesiLuganda futhi kwenziwa amakhophi azo. Ngemva kwesikhashana lo msebenzi wayekwa. INqabayokulinda yaphinde yakhishwa ngesiLuganda ngo-1987. Kusukela ngaleso sikhathi, iqembu labahumushi liye landiswa futhi abahumushi baye basebenza kanzima behumusha izincwadi eziningi ukuze kusizakale amabandla andayo olimi lwesiLuganda. Njengamanje amabandla acishe abe yisigamu ezweni lonkana akhuluma isiLuganda.

Ngokuhamba kwesikhathi izincwadi zethu zahunyushelwa nakwezinye izilimi. Sekunamaqembu abahumushi besikhathi esigcwele olimi lwesi-Acholi, isiLhukonzo nesiRunyankore. Ngaphezu kwalokho, kuye kwahunyushwa izincwadi ezithile zihunyushelwa olimini lwesi-Ateso, isiLugbara, isiMadi nesiRutoro.

Abahumushi besi-Acholi nabesiRunyankore basebenzela ehhovisi labahumushi eGulu naseMbarara, lapho bebaningi khona abantu abakhuluma lezi zilimi. Lokhu kusiza abahumushi bangalahlekelwa ulimi abaluncele ebeleni nokuba benze umsebenzi oqondakala kalula. Ngesikhathi esifanayo, amabandla endawo athola usizo lwabahumushi.

Akungatshazwa ukuthi umsebenzi wokuhumusha udinga umzamo nezimali ezinkulu. Abahumushi base-Uganda abakhuthele, bekanye nabanye emhlabeni wonke, baye bazuza ekufundisweni ukuqonda ulimi namakhono okuhumusha. Imiphumela yenza angakhalelwa amandla nezimali ezichithiwe—abantu abengeziwe e-Uganda, abavela ‘ezizweni, abantu nezilimi’ ezihlukahlukene bazuza kakhulu kunanini ngokufunda iqiniso leBhayibheli ngolimi lwabo. (IsAm. 7:9, 10) Ngenxa yalokho, ngo-2003, kwakunabamemezeli boMbuso abangaphezu kuka-3 000 e-Uganda, kwathi ngemva kweminyaka emithathu nje, ngo-2006, baba ngu-4 005.

KUDINGEKA IZINDAWO EZENGEZIWE ZOKUKHULEKELA

Eminyakeni engaphambili, abafowethu babehlangana emizini yabazalwane, emahholo omphakathi nasemakilasini ezikole. Izakhiwo zokuqala ezasetshenziselwa imihlangano yobuKristu kuphela zazakhiwe ngamabhulokisi odaka zifulelwe ngotshani emaphandleni aseNamaingo naseRusese. Abafowethu kulezi zindawo babusiswa ngempela ngokwakha lezi zakhiwo, futhi amabandla akhona aqina.

Kepha emadolobheni, ngisho nesakhiwo nje esingatheni sibiza imali eshisiwe futhi izimo zomnotho e-Uganda zenza afiphala amathemba okuthola amaHholo OMbuso. Kwaze kwaba ngo-March 1988 lapho iHholo LoMbuso lokuqala lanikezelwa khona eJinja. Yeka umsebenzi owawuhilelekile lapho—ukugawula izihlahla ehlathini eliseduzane, ukuthutha izingodo emigwaqweni enodaka nokulakha lelo hholo! Kamuva, abafowethu eMbale, eKampala naseTororo nabo bakha amaHholo OMbuso besebenzisa amasu namakhono abo.

Ukwakhiwa kwamaHholo OMbuso kwashesha ngo-1999 lapho kumiswa iqembu labakhi lisekelwa yiHhovisi Lesifunda Lokudweba Amapulani lasegatsheni laseNingizimu Afrika. Leli gatsha lamisa abazalwane abangu-9 ababehlanganisa nezinceku ezimbili zakwamanye amazwe nomkazo. Leli qembu elizimisele lashesha ukufunda umsebenzi, lakwazi nokuqeqesha abazalwane bendawo. Umsebenzi wokwakha washesha, futhi kwaphothulwa amahholo angu-67, cishe libe linye ngenyanga nesigamu—kwakushesha ngempela uma ucabangela ukuthi ambalwa amathuluzi kagesi, amanzi mancane, izimpahla zokwakha azitholakali kalula.

Iningi lamabandla e-Uganda manje liba nemihlangano yalo eHholo LoMbuso futhi lithola izinzuzo zokuba nehholo endaweni yalo. Abantu abathakazelayo bathanda ukuza endaweni yokukhulekela efanele kunasekilasini lesikole, ngakho selandile inani lababa khona emihlanganweni futhi amabandla akhule ngokushesha.

UKUBHEKANA NOKWANDA OKUSHESHAYO

Lokhu kwanda okukhulu emabandleni kwadala izinkinga ngenxa yokuba mbalwa kwezindawo zemihlangano emikhulu nemincane. Yini eyayingenziwa ukuze kutholakale izindawo ezikahle ezazingeke zidinge ukuba abafowethu bahambe amabanga amade, ikakhulu abasemaphandleni? Kwatholakala isixazululo esijabulisayo lapho kutholakala imvume yokwakha amaHholo OMbuso anwebekayo. La mahholo makhulu ngendlela evamile, anengxenye enompheme evulekile emaceleni. Lapho kususwa udonga lwangemuva lweHholo LoMbuso ukuze kube nomhlangano omkhulu, izilaleli ezengeziwe zihlala kule ngxenye enompheme. Amahholo anjalo asephothuliwe eKajansi, eRusese, naseLira futhi elesine lisakhiwa eSeta.

Isibusiso sikaJehova ekwandeni okungokomoya e-Uganda siye sabonakala nasezinguqukweni endleleni izinto ezihlelwa ngayo. Ngaphambi kuka-1994, kwakunesifunda esisodwa ezweni lonkana. Kamuva, kwamiswa izifunda ezengeziwe ukuze kunakekelwe inani elandayo lamabandla namaqembu nezilimi ezihlukahlukene. Namuhla, i-Uganda inamabandla angu-111, amaqembu angaba ngu-50, izifunda ezingu-8, ezintathu kuzo okungezesiLuganda.

U-Apollo Mukasa, omunye wababonisi besifunda e-Uganda, wabhapathizwa ngo-1972. Kwathi ngo-1980 wangenela inkonzo yesikhathi esigcwele esikhundleni sokuphishekela imfundo ephakeme. Ingabe uyazisola?

“Nakancane,” kusho u-Apollo. “Kuningi okuhlangenwe nakho okuzuzisayo engikuthole ngiyiphayona elikhethekile nanjengombonisi ojikelezayo ngihambela amaqembu, kamuva amabandla. Ngakujabulela ngokukhethekile ukuqeqeshwa okusezingeni eliphakeme ngokomoya nasezintweni eziphathelene nenhlangano eSikoleni Sokuqeqeshela Inkonzo.”

Ngaphandle kuka-Apollo, abafowethu base-Uganda abangaphezu kuka-50 baye bathola imfundo ebalulekile eSikoleni Sokuqeqeshela Inkonzo kusukela ngo-1994, ngesikhathi amakilasi esaqhutshelwa egatsheni laseKenya. Abaningi balaba bafowethu abazimisele banikeza usizo olusemqoka njengamaphayona akhethekile emabandleni amancane nasemaqenjini, kanti abanye bakhonza abafowabo nodadewabo njengababonisi abajikelezayo.

Ngo-1995 kwamiswa iKomiti Yezwe e-Uganda ukuze isebenze ngaphansi kwesiqondiso segatsha laseKenya. Elinye lamakhaya ezithunywa zevangeli eKampala laba umuzi womkhaya owawusanda kwakhiwa wezisebenzi zokuzithandela ezingu-8, ezazihlanganisa neqembu labahumushi besiLuganda. Ngo-September 2003, i-Uganda yaba igatsha.

“SESISEPHARADESI MANJE”

Kwase kuyisikhathi iKomiti Yezwe izama ukuhlangabezana nokwanda kwamaqembu abahumushi nokunakekela eminye imisebenzi eyandayo yasehhovisi. Kwathengwa izindawo ezimbili ezincikene nehhovisi eKampala ukuze kugcwaliswe leso sidingo. Noma kunjalo, ekugcineni kwadingeka izakhiwo ezinkulu ukuze kuhlelwe umsebenzi owawuqhubeka wanda. Ngo-2001 iNdikimba Ebusayo yavuma ukuba kuthengwe indawo engamahektare amane ukuze kwakhiwe izakhiwo ezintsha zegatsha emaphethelweni eKampala, eduze kweLake Victoria.

Ekuqaleni, inkampane eyayinazo zonke izinto ezazidingeka ukuze yakhe lesi sakhiwo ayisamukelanga isicelo sethu ngoba yayinomsebenzi omningi. Kodwa gwiqiqi, yashintsha umqondo, futhi isimanga ukuthi yathi izosakhela igatsha elisha ngemali ephansi kakhulu. Sengathi abanikazi besakhiwo esikhulu okwakufanele isakhe babehoxile, okwenza yavuma ukulakha ngokushesha ngangokunokwenzeka igatsha.

Ngo-January 2006 umkhaya waseBethel wathokoza lapho uthuthela kulesi sakhiwo esihle, esisha esinezitezi ezimbili namagumbi angu-32. Kulesi sakhiwo kunamahhovisi, igumbi lokudlela elikhulu, ikhishi nelondolo. Kunesimiso sokuthutha indle esingasebenzisi makhemikhali, indawo yokugcina izimpahla yomnyango wokuthumela izincwadi nowezincwadi, kunesakhiwo esineshede lokulungisa izinto, indawo yokugcina amanzi kanye ne-generator kagesi. “Sesisepharadesi manje,” kusho omunye umzalwane ngenjabulo, “ukuphila okuphakade nje kuphela okusele!” Inkulumo yokunikezela yayingoMgqibelo, ngo-January 20, 2007, yethulwa u-Anthony Morris, ilungu leNdikimba Ebusayo.

ULWAZI LWEQINISO LUBA LUNINGI

Emashumini eminyaka amuva, ngezikhathi zezinxushunxushu nezokuthula, abantu bakaJehova e-Uganda bafundile ukuthi kunjani ‘ukushumayela izwi ngenkathi evumayo nangenkathi enzima.’ (2 Thim. 4:2) Ngo-2008 abamemezeli abangu-4 766 bajabulela ukuqhuba izifundo zeBhayibheli ezingu-11 564 nokuba khona kwabangu-16 644 eSikhumbuzweni sokufa kukaKristu. Lawo manani kanye nesilinganiso sommemezeli oyedwa kubantu abangu-6 276 sibonisa ukuthi amasimu ‘asesemhlophe alungele ukuvunwa.’—Joh. 4:35.

Ngesikhathi esifanayo, abafowethu nodadewethu e-Uganda bafunde kokuhlangenwe nakho okubuhlungu ukuthi izimo zingashintsha kanjani kungalindelekile nokuthi singashesha kanjani ukuvivinyelwa ukholo. Noma kunjalo, okubehlele kubafundise ukuba bathembele kuJehova, esiqondisweni seZwi lakhe nakubafowethu bomhlaba wonke.

Ingelosi yatshela umprofethi osekhulile uDaniyeli ukuthi ‘esikhathini sokuphela, ulwazi lweqiniso luyoba luningi.’ (Dan. 12:4) Ngesibusiso sikaJehova, ngempela ulwazi lweqiniso lube luningi e-Uganda. Ngokungangabazeki, kule ndawo enesizalo somfula omkhulu iNayile, amathantala amanzi eqiniso azoqhubeka ephethuka ukuze anelise bonke abomele iqiniso elingokomoya. Njengoba uJehova eqhubeka ebusisa umsebenzi emhlabeni wonke, sisibheke ngabomvu isikhathi bonk’ abantu abayomemeza ngaso ngazwi-linye badumise uJehova—kuze kube phakade!

[Imibhalo yaphansi]

[Amazwi acashunwe esihlokweni ekhasini 84]

‘Kwakuhlekisa ukuzwa izwi lomMelika nelomuntu waseScotland esiteshini somsakazo sase-Afrika’

[Amazwi acashunwe esihlokweni ekhasini 92]

“Bangayivimba kanjani into ekweyami inhliziyo?”

[Amazwi acashunwe esihlokweni ekhasini 111]

“Uthini uma ufuna ukuthi ‘uMbuso kaNkulunkulu’ ngesiLuganda?” kubuza uMats esanda kuqala nje ukufundiswa lolu limi.

[Ibhokisi/Isithombe ekhasini 72]

Ake Sithi Qaphu Qaphu Nge-Uganda

Izwe

I-Uganda inezinto ezihlukahlukene ezimangalisayo, isho ngamahlathi aluhlaza acinene, odedangendlale bezinkangala, inqwaba yemifula namachibi noKhahlamba Lwezintaba ezilala iqhwa iRuwenzori. Ingamakhilomitha-skwele angu-241 551 futhi ihlanganisa nengxenye ethi ayibe yisigamu yeLake Victoria, ichibi elikhulu kunawo wonke e-Afrika.

Abantu

Abantu abangaphezu kwamaphesenti angu-85, abakhiwa amaqembu ezizwe acishe abe ngu-30, bahlala emaphandleni.

Ulimi

IsiLuganda yisona esikhulunywa abantu abaningi ezilimini ezingaphezu kuka-32 zase-Uganda. Izilimi ezisemthethweni yisiNgisi nesiSwahili.

Indlela yokuziphilisa

E-Uganda kuyalinywa kukhiqizwe ikhofi, itiye, ukotini nezinye izitshalo ezitshalelwa ukudayiswa. Abantu abaningi bangabalimi abaphila ngokudla abakutshalayo, kodwa abanye baziphilisa ngokudoba noma ngokuvakashisa izivakashi.

Ukudla

I-matooke (esesithombeni), ukudla okubilisiwe okwenziwe ngokhova, ikhonzwe kakhulu eningizimu yezwe. Impuphu, ubhatata nesinkwa samabele noma esenziwe ngofulawa womdumbula kudliwa nemifino enhlobonhlobo.

Isimo sezulu

I-Uganda isenkangala ekhuphukelayo esuka endaweni engamamitha angaba ngu-1 500 eningizimu iye enyakatho ngamamitha angaba ngu-900 futhi iyizwe elishisayo elinesimo sezulu esincwaba. Izindawo eziningi kuleli zwe zinesikhathi sasebusika nesasehlobo.

[Ibhokisi/Isithombe ekhasini 77]

Uthando LobuKristu Lwangempela Luthinta Izinhliziyo

UPETER GYABI

UNYAKA AZALWA NGAWO 1932

ABHAPATHIZWA NGAWO 1965

UMLANDO WAKHE OMFUSHANE Umdala owasiza ngokuhumusha izincwadi ngesikhathi umsebenzi uvinjelwe. Yena nomkakhe, u-Esther, banezingane ezine esezikhulile.

◼ LAPHO izithunywa zevangeli zokuqala zoFakazi BakaJehova zifika e-Uganda, kwakudlange ubandlululo kuleli zwe, futhi iningi labeLungu lalingenandaba nabantu abaNsundu. Uthando lobuKristu lwangempela lwezithunywa zevangeli lwasithinta izinhliziyo, futhi sazithanda kakhulu.

Ngawo-1970, umkhaya wakithi wawuzipha isikhathi sokuba nezithunywa zevangeli ezazihlala eMbarara eqhele ngamakhilomitha angu-65, futhi ushumayela nazo. Langa limbe siya eMbarara, amasosha amisa imoto yethu. “Uma nifuna ukufa, ningaqhubeka nohambo,” kusho elinye isosha. Kwabonakala kuwukuhlakanipha ukuba sijike sigoduke. Kepha njengoba izinsuku zidlula saya siba nexhala ngezithunywa zevangeli. Sasifuna ukuya ekhaya lezithunywa zevangeli ngokushesha ukuze siyohlola ukuthi zinjani. Abakwasidlodlo babebaba há, bengafuni lutho oludlulayo, kodwa igunya lami njengesisebenzi sasesibhedlela kanye nophawu olwalusemotweni lokuthi ngisebenza esibhedlela kwangisiza ngakwazi ukudlula lapho babevimbe khona. Kwathi gidi lapho sithola ukuthi izithunywa zevangeli ziphephile! Sazinikeza ukudla futhi sathi ukuhlala izinsukwana nazo. Ngemva kwalokho, sasizivakashela masonto onke kwaze kwaba yilapho sekuphephile ukuba ziye eKampala. Kwakuthi lapho izimo ziba nzima, kube yilapho silubona nakakhulu khona uthando lwabafowethu abayigugu.

[Ibhokisi/Isithombe ekhasini 82]

“Ngangicabanga Ukuthi Ngeke Ngikwazi Ukubashumayeza”

UMARGARET NYENDE

UNYAKA AZALWA NGAWO 1926

ABHAPATHIZWA NGAWO 1962

UMLANDO WAKHE OMFUSHANE Udade wokuqala e-Uganda owathola iqiniso. Wakhonza njengephayona elivamile iminyaka engaphezu kuka-20. Usakhuthele namanje.

◼ UMYENI wami wayezijabulela izifundo zeBhayibheli ayeziqhutshelwa uMfoweth’ uKilminster futhi wacabanga ukuthi nami kufanele ngifundelwe ngoba ngiyalithanda kakhulu iBhayibheli. Ngakho kwahlelwa ukuba ngifundelwe umkaJohn Bwali, u-Eunice.

Ngakuthanda engangikufunda, kodwa ngangesaba ukushumayeza abanye. Ngangibesaba abantu ngokwemvelo, ngenxa yalokho ngangicabanga ukuthi ngeke ngikwazi ukubashumayeza. Kodwa u-Eunice wangibekezelela, waqale wangisiza ukuba ngifunde umBhalo owodwa. Lapho siphuma emzini othile, wayengifundisa indlela engingawukhulumela ngayo lowo mBhalo. Ngosizo lukaJehova, ngakunqoba ukwesaba kwami.

Ngaphambi nje kokuba ngibhapathizwe, ngashaqeka lapho umyeni wami eliyeka iqiniso futhi engishiya nezingane zethu ezingu-7. Noma kunjalo, abazalwane nodade bangisiza kakhulu; basisiza ngokwenyama nangokomoya. Umbhangqwana waphesheya wawudlula ekhaya usithathe ngemoto lapho uya emihlanganweni yebandla eKampala. Ngiyajabula ngokuthi izingane zami ezine nemikhaya yazo baye bakhetha ukukhonza uJehova.

Ekugcineni ngakwazi ukukhonza njengephayona elivamile. Lapho sengigogwe isifo samathambo, ngabeka itafula lezincwadi ngaphandle komuzi wami futhi ngixoxe nabantu abadlulayo. Yingakho ngakwazi ukuqhubeka ngisenkonzweni yesikhathi esigcwele.

[Ibhokisi/Izithombe ekhasini 98, 99]

UNkulunkulu Wawubusisa Umsebenzi Wethu Wokuvuna

USAMUEL MUKWAYA

UNYAKA AZWALWA NGAWO 1932

ABHAPATHIZWA NGAWO 1974

UMLANDO WAKHE OMFUSHANE Kwaphela iminyaka eminingi uSamuel emelela inhlangano ezindabeni zomthetho, futhi wakhonza njengomdala nephayona.

◼ ANGISOZE ngakulibala okwenzeka ngesikhathi ngivakashele ehhovisi legatsha laseKenya eNairobi.

Lapho ngibuka ibalazwe lase-Uganda, ngabuza: “Abani lab’ okhanjana okuphawulwe ngabo lezi zindawo?”

“Lezi yizindawo ezinabantu abaningi abanesithakazelo,” kuphendula uRobert Hart, ilungu leKomiti Yegatsha LaseKenya.

“Nizowathumela nini amaphayona laphaya?” ngibuza lapho ngikhomba ukhanjana owawuhlonywe endaweni yase-Iganga, edolobheni lakithi.

Wathi: “Ngeke sithumele muntu lapho.” Wayesengibheka ezinhlamvwini zamehlo, waqhubeka, “Uwena ozoya khona.”

Yangimangaza impendulo kaMfoweth’ uHart ngoba ngangingelona iphayona futhi ngingahlali nakulelo dolobha lakithi. Yize kunjalo, lokhu kwahlala engqondweni yami, futhi lapho sengithole umhlalaphansi njengesisebenzi sikahulumeni, nganquma ukuphindela ekhaya ngiyoba iphayona elivamile. Yeka intokozo okwaba yiyo ukubona idlanzana labamemezeli landa ngokushesha liba ibandla eliqinile elinelalo iHholo LoMbuso!

Lapho uPatrick Baligeya abelwa e-Iganga njengephayona elikhethekile, wahlala nami, saphayona ndawonye. Satshala nommbila ukuze sizisekele. Njalo ekuseni sasiqala ngetekisi losuku bese siyosebenza ensimini yommbila amahora ambalwa. Emini yasekuseni sasiya ensimini senze inkonzo usuku lonke.

Njengoba ummbila ukhula, abanye omakhelwane basikisela ukuthi ukushumayela kwethu kusenza singayinaki insimu yethu yommbila. Sasazi kahle ukuthi ummbila udinga ukuvikelwa ezinkawini ngaso sonke isikhathi njengoba izikhwebu zivuthwa. Noma kunjalo, sasingafuni ukuphazamisa umsebenzi wethu wokuvuna ngokomoya siyoxoshana nezinkawu.

Ngokushesha ngemva kwalokho, saphawula ukuthi kunezinja ezinkulu ezimbili ezehla zenyuka ensimini yethu. Asazi ukuthi zazivelaphi noma kwakungezikabani, kodwa kunokuba sizixoshe, sazipha ukudla namanzi zonke izinsuku. Njengokulindelekile, njengoba izinja zazigade insimu yethu, izinkawu zazingabonwa nangokhalo. Kwathi ngemva kwamasonto amane, zavele zanyamalala izinja—ngaso kanye isikhathi sokuvuthwa kwezikhwebu! Sambonga uJehova ngesivuno esihle esasithola kunokuba sibe ukudla kwezinkawu. Okubaluleke nakakhulu, asive sambonga uNkulunkulu nangokuthi wayesibusisile isivuno sethu esingokomoya!

[Ibhokisi/Isithombe ekhasini 101, 102]

Ngangiboshiwe Kepha UJehova Wangisekela

UPATRICK BALIGEYA

UNYAKA AZALWA NGAWO 1955

ABHAPATHIZWA NGAWO 1983

UMLANDO WAKHE OMFUSHANE Wangenela inkonzo yesikhathi esigcwele ngokushesha nje ngemva kokubhapathizwa. Wajikeleza nomkakhe uSymphronia.

◼ LAPHO uhulumeni omusha uthatha izintambo ngo-1979, bonk’ abantu ababekade besebenzela uhulumeni wangaphambili bagqunywa ejele. Kwamenyezelwa ukuthi noma ubani odlubulundayo uyozibangela amazinyo abushelelezi futhi uyowukhomba umuzi onotshwala. Ngenxa yokuthi ngangikade ngicula ebuthweni lezempi, ngaboshwa nami.

Ngajabula ngokuthi ngesikhathi ngisejele ngangikwazi ukufunda iBhayibheli nsuku zonke ukuze umqondo wami uhlale uphapheme. Ngaphandle kwalokho, ngangifuna iqiniso futhi ngithanda ukuxoxa nezinye iziboshwa ngezihloko zeBhayibheli. Kulo leli jele kwakunoFakazi KaJehova, uJohn Mundua, owayeboshwe ngoba ekade esebenzela uhulumeni futhi engowesizwe okwakucatshangwa ukuthi sasisekela umbuso wangaphambili.

UJohn wangixoxela ngezindaba ezinhle ngentshiseko, nami ngazamukela ngaphandle kokunanaza. Sasinomagazini be-Nqabayokulinda abangu-16 nencwadi ethi Izindaba Ezinhle—Zokukwenza Uthokoze,c kodwa ngabona ngaso leso sikhathi ukuthi lokhu engikufundayo kuyiqiniso. Ngemva kokufundelwa izinyanga ezintathu, uJohn waba nomuzwa wokuthi ngiyakufanelekela ukuba ummemezeli. Ngokushesha ngemva kwalokho, watholakala engenacala wayesededelwa. Wayengasekho umuntu owayengixhumanisa nenhlangano kaJehova. Noma kunjalo, ngaqhubeka ngifundela abathakazelayo ejele.

Ngadedelwa ngo-October 1981 ngabuyela endaweni yakithi, lapho kwakungekho Fakazi khona. Izihlobo zami zazama ukungicindezela ukuba ngihlanganyele nazo emikhubeni yenkolo. Nokho, uJehova wasibona isifiso sami sokumkhonza, futhi wangisekela. Ngangazi ukuthi kufanele ngilandele isibonelo sikaJesu, ngakho ngaqala ukushumayela ngedwa, futhi kungakapheli sikhathi, ngase nginezifundo eziningi. Ngelinye ilanga umninikhaya wakhipha incwadi ethi IQiniso Eliholela Ekuphileni Okuphakade wathi, “Lezi zinto ozishoyo zifana nalokho engikufunde kule ncwadi.”d Lo mnumzane wayengenasithakazelo esitheni, futhi mina ngangihalela ukufunda le ncwadi yakhe kanye nenqwaba yomagazini be-Nqabayokulinda. Lo mninikhaya wavuma ukunginikeza lezi zincwadi!

Kodwa kwakusadingeka ngithole abanye oFakazi. UMfoweth’ uMundua wayengitshele ukuthi bakhona oFakazi eJinja. Ngakho nganquma ukuyobafuna. Ngemva kokuthandaza cishe ubusuku bonke, ngakusasa ekuseni ngahamba ngingadlanga nokudla. Umlisa wokuqala engahlangana naye endleleni wayephethe upulasitiki okhanya ngale. Angizange ngikholwe uma ngibona ukuthi kune-Phaphama! Ngase ngimtholile oyedwa kubafowethu!

Ngo-1984 ngajabula ngafa lapho ngisekilasini lokuqala leSikole Senkonzo Samaphayona e-Uganda. Ungaqagela ukuthi nganginobani ekilasini? Kwakungabuye kube ubani ngaphandle komfowethu othandekayo uJohn Mundua. Ngisho namanje, eneminyaka engu-74, usaqhubeka ekhonza ngokwethembeka njengephayona elivamile.

[Imibhalo yaphansi]

[Ibhokisi/Isithombe ekhasini 113]

Wayithola Inkolo Yeqiniso Ekugcineni

Udade othile wacela isithunywa sevangeli uMats Holmkvist ukuba sibonane noMutesaasira Yafesi owayekade engumfundisi wamaSabatha. Manje wayesenesithakazelo koFakazi BakaJehova futhi wayebhale uhlu lwemibuzo engu-20. Lapho bebonana noMats, wamnika lolu hlu.

Ngemva kwengxoxo yeBhayibheli yamahora amabili, uMutesaasira wathi: “Ngicabanga ukuthi ngiyitholile inkolo yeqiniso ekugcineni! Ubofika uzongivakashela esigodini sakithi. Bakhona nabanye abafuna ukwazi okwengeziwe ngoFakazi BakaJehova.”

Ngemva kwezinsuku ezinhlanu, uMats nesinye isithunywa sevangeli bahamba ngesithuthuthu bavakashela uMutesaasira eKalangalo—ibanga elingamakhilomitha angu-110 ezindleleni ezimagebhugebhu nezinodaka benqamula emasimini etiye. Bamangala lapho uMutesaasira ebayisa endlini efulelwe ngotshani eyayinophawu oluthi “IHholo LoMbuso.” Yebo, wayeseyilungiselele indawo okwakuzofundelwa kuyo kuqhutshelwe nemihlangano kuyo!

Kwakunabanye abayishumi ababenesithakazelo ngenxa yamaqiniso ababewafundiswe uMutesaasira. Kwaqalwa izifundo zeBhayibheli, uMats wayeziqhuba kabili ngenyanga, enganqeniswa ibanga elide. Lezi zifundo zathuthuka. Abantu abangaphezu kuka-20 sebengabamemezeli eKalangalo, futhi kunebandla elikhulayo edolobheni eliseduze laseMityana. Phakathi naleso sikhathi, uMutesaasira wathuthuka ngokushesha futhi wabhapathizwa. Manje usezohlanganisa iminyaka engu-80 futhi ungumdala.

[Ishadi/Igrafu ekhasini 108, 109]

ISHADI LEZENZAKALO EZIPHAWULEKAYO E-Uganda

1930

1931 URobert Nisbet noDavid Norman bashumayela eMpumalanga Afrika.

1940

1950

1950 AbakwaKilminster bathuthela e-Uganda.

1952 Kumiswa ibandla lokuqala.

1956 Ubhapathizo lokuqala.

1959 Abazalwane bakwamanye amazwe bayasiza ngokomoya.

1960

1963 Kufika izithunywa zevangeli zaseGileyadi.

1972 Kuqhutshwa umhlangano wesigodi wokuqala.

1973 OFakazi BakaJehova bayavinjelwa nezithunywa zevangeli ziyaxoshwa.

1979 Umthetho ovimbela umsebenzi wethu uyesulwa.

1980

1982 Izithunywa zevangeli ziphinde ziyavunyelwa ukuba zingene kuleli.

1987 INqabayokulinda ihunyushelwa olimini lwesiLuganda zinyanga zonke.

1988 Kunikezelwa iHholo LoMbuso lokuqala.

1990

2000

2003 Kuvulwa ihhovisi legatsha.

2007 Kunikezelwa izakhiwo ezintsha zegatsha.

2010

[Igrafu]

(Bheka encwadini)

Ingqikithi Yabamemezeli

Ingqikithi Yamaphayona

5 000

3 000

1 000

1930 1940 1950 1960 1980 1990 2000 2010

[Amabalazwe ekhasini 73]

(Ukuze ubone ukuthi indaba ihlelwe kanjani, bheka encwadini)

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

[Ibalazwe/Isithombe ekhasini 87]

(Ukuze ubone ukuthi indaba ihlelwe kanjani, bheka encwadini)

UGANDA

KAMPALA

Arua

Gulu

Lira

Soroti

Masindi

Hoima

Fort Portal

Masaka

Mbarara

Kabale

LAKE VICTORIA

[Isithombe]

UMfoweth’ uHardy nomkakhe balihamba cishe lonke elase-Uganda ngamasonto ayisithupha

[Isithombe esigcwele ikhasi ekhasini 66]

[Isithombe ekhasini 69]

UDavid Norman noRobert Nisbet baletha izindaba ezinhle eMpumalanga ye-Afrika

[Isithombe ekhasini 71]

UGeorge noRobert Nisbet noGray no-Olga Smith namaveni abo esikebheni sebelungele ukuwela umfula

[Isithombe ekhasini 75]

UMary noFrank Smith, ngesikhathi sebezoshada ngo-1956

[Isithombe ekhasini 78]

U-Ann Cooke nezingane zakhe benoMfowethu noDade Makumba

[Isithombe ekhasini 80]

UTom noBethel McLain babeyizithunywa zevangeli zokuqala ezaqeqeshwa eGileyadi e-Uganda

[Isithombe ekhasini 81]

Ikhaya lokuqala lezithunywa zevangeli eJinja

[Isithombe ekhasini 83]

Izithunywa zevangeli zaseGileyadi uBarbara noStephen Hardy

[Isithombe ekhasini 85]

UMary Nisbet (phakathi nendawo) namadodana akhe uRobert (kwesobunxele), uGeorge (kwesokudla), noWilliam nomkakhe uMuriel (ngemuva)

[Isithombe ekhasini 89]

UTom Cooke enikeza inkulumo eMhlanganweni Wesigodi ‘Wokubusa Kwaphezulu’ eKampala

[Isithombe ekhasini 90]

UGeorge noGertrude Ochola

[Izithombe ekhasini 94]

Naphezu kokuvinjelwa, abafowethu baqhubeka behlangana ndawonye

[Isithombe ekhasini 95]

UFred Nyende

[Isithombe ekhasini 96]

U-Emmanuel Kyamiza

[Isithombe ekhasini 104]

UStanley Makumba nomkakhe, u-Esinala ngo-1998

[Isithombe ekhasini 107]

UHeinz noMarianne Wertholz baya ekilasini lokuqala loPhiko Lwesikole SaseGileyadi eJalimane

[Izithombe ekhasini 118]

Amaqembu Abahumushi

IsiLuganda

Isi-Acholi

IsiLhukonzo

IsiRunyankore

[Izithombe ekhasini 123]

AmaHholo OMbuso anamuhla ahluke kakhulu kwawakudala (kwesobunxele)

[Izithombe ekhasini 124]

Igatsha Lase-Uganda

IKomiti Yegatsha: UMats Holmskvist, uMartin Lowum, uMichael Reiss noFred Nyende; isakhiwo samahhovisi (ngezansi) nesokuhlala (kwesokudla)