My name is Kagombe Deogratious Leo, one of the pioneer catechists in Mbuya Parish. I come from a village called Kigombe, Nyakaliro Sub County, Ngoma County, Rushenyi constituency, Ntugamo district. My father had two wives but my mother had seven children and I was the third born following two girls. I was baptized in my Primary school as a Protestant.
My dad was a traditionalist and he never wanted me to go to school. So I worked with him on the family Farm but I was more of a naughty and cunning child. I would act as broker trader for the Indian traders that used to come buy products from our village. So those traders pushed my father to send me to school.
Some teachers came to teach us Catechism and asked for 10 Uganda shillings, but my father refused saying he can not pay school fees and also pay God. This happened twice and my father declined both instances.
The third time, a priest came to my school and asked for those who wanted to attend catechism classes. I raised my hand stubbornly and quickly asked how much it would cost, he answered free of charge. I asked him how I would go, the priest answered that he would come with a car to pick me. I quickly gave my father the news and told him they were not asking for any money. He immediately told me “my son, that is a true religion, you can go!” That is how I came to be baptized at 16 years of age. I came to Kampala in 1977 to study but I did not qualify for the big schools. In Kampala, I was staying in Lungujja.
I was going to Aggrey Memorial School in Bunamwaya, attending morning Mass everyday from Rubaga before walking to school from Lungujja, to Rubaga, to Bunamwaya and back, daily.
In 1978, I went back to Kitunga High School in the village because of the wars. I returned to Kampala in 1981, staying in Namirembe and praying from Nakulabye Parish. And that is how I came to join Uganda College of Commerce, currently called Makerere University Business School.
My journey as a catechist
First of all, to become a catechist, it was something I never wanted in my life. This was because of their history. When I was a child, the catechists were always despised, always the poor ones, I didn’t want to live my life poor. But in 1982, I joined Mbuya and I was studying from the Uganda College of Commerce then, now Makerere University Business School. I was inspired by the work of Fathers George Previdi – the Parish Priest then and his assistant Fr. Dominic was doing to preach peace, because of the situation of the War in Uganda at that time, the Fathers were welcoming people warmly and that inspired me very much. By that time, we were always praying for peace, saying the Rosary, and visiting people to give them hope house to house.
Since I used to follow the Priests in home visits and reciting the Rosary, and I was so active in all the Parish activities and groups, such as the Choir, I used to sing with people like Sr. Simon Peter, Mrs. Jane Irumba, and Martha in the Our Lady of Africa Choir, I was in the youth groups, and active in every Parish activity. From there, people started calling me “musomesa” until 1983 when the Parish was nominating and electing the Parish Executive. I was selected as a Parish catechist from 1983 to date. I can say it was a call from God by virtue of my baptism. Fr. George helped me to appreciate that Catechists do a great job, doing the work of God. So I became the Catechist of Mbuya center which is now St. Daniel Comboni Sub-Parish.
There was a Father called Fr. Fluvio from Luwero who was training us on how to construct houses using bricks, unfortunately when he fell ill, he was given HIV infected blood transfusion and he died of AIDs. That Priest inspired me and used to encourage me alot in this journey at that time. May he continue to rest in peace.
In 1984, I joined a new community called the NeoCatechumenal Way in Mbuya which Fr. George received. The group leaders had come to Mbuya in 1980-81, so in 1984, I was in a crisis to get married. I had a girlfriend, she was from the same village. Fr. George discouraged us from staying together before marriage. So we got married after I had become a Catechist in the same year of 1984, and the same year I joined the community of the Neocatechumenal Way – a formation we follow to become a Christian. This is when I found out that I am not yet a Christian, because I have not yet met Christ
As a catechist I moved places to evangelize the word of God, we moved with the Priests to Kigumba and many Parishes. What I have seen in all this journey, is God’s convenience. God has truly helped.
All the Priests since then have been of great help to me, from Fr. George, Fr. Dominic, Fr. Mario, Fr. Archetti, then Fr. Mario again, followed by Fr. Mungereza, Fr. Kibira and now, Fr. Jjumba. Fr. Mario served 3 times in Mbuya Parish, he first came before Fr. George.
So many years now, I didn’t celebrate 25 years because I never saw the need to. But due to the continuous exposure through the deanery meetings and others, people used to constantly remind me that it is by God’s mercy, so when we reach 25 years, we need to celebrate, each milestone, 40, 50, 75 years, we need to celebrate everyday.
I have also come to realize that marriage is a vocation. I got married at the age of 27, married for 25 years, with 5 children; 2 boys and 3 girls who are now old enough, and independent.
My advice to the young men and young people in general today, first of all, my father wanted me to get married at 11 years old because he had a lot of land, and animals. But because of my naughtiness, I started work at the very same age of 11, that is how I found myself going to school. Before he passed on in 1982, he told me “i told you to get married but you refused, you are going to Kampala, be careful with women in Kisenyi, the prostitutes, they have gonorrhea!”
My message is young people, remain in church! It has sustained me, God has seen me through. Secondly, it is better to get married earlier. Don’t base your relationship on money. Boys, if you are 25 years and above, done with school, marry.
I encourage you all youngsters to join church movements and above all, do not fear responsibilities.
This year, today, I celebrate 40 years in service as a catechist, it is not by my might, but the Lord’s. I also congratulate my Parish for reaching this milestone of 54 years together. God bless us all.