Christiana Asitula Olugendo

Nate ne nnaloota ekirooto, era kyali kino:—Christiana, mukyala wa Omukristaayo, yali afukamidde okusaba, awo bwe yagolokoka, n'awulira ng'akonkona ku luggi n'amaanyi. Bw'oba ozze mu linnya lya Katonda, n'ayogera, yingira. Awo mu kirooto kyange ne ndaba omuntu, ng'ayambadde ebyambalo ebyeru ng'omuzira, ng'aggulawo oluggi, n'agamba nti, Emirembe gibe mu nnyumba eno. Olw'okulaba ekintu ekipya bwe kityo gy'ali, Christiana mu kusooka n'ayongobera olw'okutya, naye mu kaseera katono n'aguma omwoyo n'amugamba nti ayagala okumanya gy'ava n'ensonga lwaki. Awo n'agamba nti erinnya lye ye Ekyama, era nti abeera n'abo abali waggulu. Awo omugenyi we n'ayogera nti: Christiana, luuno oluwandiiko lwo, lwe nkuleetedde okuva eri Omukristaayo. Awo n'alutwala, n'amenya akabonero, n'asoma ebigambo bino, ebyali mu zaabu:—“Eri oyo eyali mukyala wange omwagalwa. Kabaka ayagala okole nga nze bwe nnakola, kubanga ekyo kye kkubo eryayingira mu nsi eno, n'okubeera naye mu ssanyu.” Christiana bwe yasoma kino, n'akaaba amaziga, n'agamba oyo eyaleeta oluwandiiko nti, Ssebo, onootwala nze n'abaana bange, tulyoke tuvunnyame eri kabaka ono? Naye n'ayogera nti, Christiana, essanyu lizaalibwa ennaku: okweraliikirira kusaana kusooke, oluvannyuma essanyu. Okutuuka mu nsi mwe mbeera, oteekwa okuyita mu kutegana, awamu n'okusekererwa n'okuduulirwa. Naye kwata ekkubo eritwala eri Omulyango Omufunda oguli ku mutwe gw'ekkubo; era nkwagaliza olugendo olulungi. Njagala oteeke oluwandiiko luno mu kifuba kyo, lusomebwe gy'oli okutuusa lw'oliriwaayo ku mulyango ogw'enkomerero oguyingira mu Kibuga eky'Eggulu.”

Awo Christiana n'ayogera n'abaana be, n'agamba nti: Baana bange, ebbanga lino mpitiddwamu ennaku olw'okufa kwa Omukristaayo, kitammwe omwagalwa. Naye kaakano nkakasa nti abeera bulungi, era nti abeera mu nsi ey'obulamu n'emirembe. Era mfunye ennaku ennyingi bwe ndowooza ku mbeera yange n'eyammwe; kubanga twakola bubi okuleka emitima gyaffe okunnyogoga, ne tutassaayo mwoyo gy'ali mu kiseera ky'okulaba kwe, ne tumukugira bwe yali adduka okuva mu Kibuga eky'Okuzikirira kino.

Okulowooza ku bintu bino kwandinzise, singa si kirooto kye nnaloota ekiro ekyayita, n'ebyo omugenyi eyazze wano ku makya lwe yaŋŋambye. Kale mujje, abaagalwa bange, tugende amangu ku mulyango oguyingira mu Kibuga eky'Eggulu, tulyoke tulabe kitammwe era tubeere naye n'emikwano gye.

Awo abaana be ababiri abasooka ne bakaaba amaziga ag'essanyu kubanga omutima gwa Christiana gwali gukyuse bwe gutyo.

Awo bwe baali bategeka buli kintu okugenda, mikwano ebiri egya Christiana ne bajja ku nnyumba ye, ne bakonkona ku luggi. N'abagamba nti, Bwe muba muzze mu linnya lya Katonda, muyingire. Engeri eno ey'okwogera okuva mu kamwa ka Christiana n'ebeewuunyisa. Naye ne bayingira, ne bagamba nti, Tukwegayiridde tugambe amakulu ga kino ky'oyogera.

Njagala okuva mu maka gange, n'agamba Mukyala Omutiitiizi—kubanga eryo lye lyali erinnya lya omu ku mikwano gino.

Omutiitiizi:—Olw'ensonga ki, mbeegayiridde ontegeeze?

Christiana:—Okugenda eri Omukristaayo wange omwagalwa. Awo n'akaaba.

Omutiitiizi:—Nedda, kiyinzika kutyo? Ani oba kiki ekikuleese mu ndowooza eno?

Christiana:—Ayi, munnange, singa obadde omanyi nga nze bwe mmanyi, sirina kubuusabuusa nti wandisanyuse okugenda nange.

Omutiitiizi:—Kuki okuyigirizibwa okupya kw'ofunye okusika omwoyo gwo okuva ku mikwano gyo, ne kukusendasenda okugenda gy'atamanyi muntu n'omu?

Christiana:—Ekiro ekyayita nnaloota nga ndaba Omukristaayo. Ayi, singa emmeeme yange ebadde naye kaakano! Omulangira w'ekifo ekyo antumidde, ng'ayita mu oyo eyanzeeko enjuba we yavaayo, n'aleeta oluwandiiko luno okundagira ŋŋende eyo; lusome, nkwegayiridde.

Omutiitiizi:—Ayi, obusiru bumeka okwewaayo mu kabi bwe katyo! Nkakasa nga wawulira, okuva eri munnaffe Omukakanyavu, Omukristaayo bye yasanga ku kkubo, kubanga yagenda naye; weewaawo, ne Akyukakyuka naye, okutuusa lwe baddayo, ng'abasajja ab'amagezi, olw'okutya. Wawulira nga yasanga ensolo enkambwe ne Apolyoni, bye yalaba mu Kiwonvu ky'Ekisiikirize ky'Okufa, n'ebirala bingi ebinnyimusa enviiri okubiwulira; era lowooza, ne ku baana bano abato abana ab'omubiri gwo n'amagumba go; era wadde ng'oyinza okuba omukakanyavu ennyo okwagala okugenda, naye ku lwabwe, nkwegayiridde beera awaka.

Naye Christiana n'ayogera nti: Tonkema. Kaakano nfunye omukisa mu mukono gwange okufuna amagoba, era mu mazima nnandibadde musiru singa saba na mutima gw'okugukwata. N'okutegana n'emitego bino by'ontegeeza tebijja kunziyiza; nedda, byo bikola bumu kundaga nti ndi mu kkubo ettuufu. Okweraliikirira kusaana kusooke okuwuliddwa, oluvannyuma essanyu. Kale nga bwe mutazze wano mu maka gange mu linnya lya Katonda, nga bwe njogedde, mbeegayiridde mugende, temunnema kunkema nate.

Awo Omutiitiizi n'agamba Okusaasira (eyajja naye): Tumuleke mu mikono gye, kubanga anyooma buli kye njogera.

Naye Okusaasira n'alowooza nti singa munne Christiana ateekwa okugenda, yandigenze naye ekitundu ky'ekkubo okumuyamba. Era n'alowoozaako ku mmeeme ye, kubanga ebyo Christiana bye yayogera byali bikutte omwoyo gwe, era n'awulira nti ateekwa okwogera n'omukwano guno; era singa asanga nga amazima n'obulamu biri mu bigambo bye, yandimwegasseeko n'omutima gwe gwonna.

Awo Okusaasira n'agamba Omutiitiizi: Nzizze naawe okulaba Christiana, era nga olwa leero ava mu kibuga, ndowooza ekisinga obutono kye nnyinza okukola kwe kutambula naye akabanga akatono okumuyamba mu lugendo. Naye ebisigadde n'abikweka Omutiitiizi.

Omutiitiizi:—Kale, ndaba naawe olina omwoyo okwekola omusiru; naye weekuume mu budde obulungi, obeere w'amagezi.

Awo Mukyala Omutiitiizi n'addayo mu nnyumba ye; Christiana n'abaana be abana n'Okusaasira ne bagenda mu lugendo lwabwe.

Okusaasira, Christiana bw'ayogera, nkitwala ng'ekirabo ekinene nti ozze ebweru okuntandikira mu lugendo lwange.

Awo Okusaasira omuto n'ayogera (kubanga yali muto nnyo): Singa nnalowoozezza nti kirungi okukwegattako, sandizzeeyo n'akatono mu kibuga.

Christiana:—Kale, Okusaasira, teeka omukisa gwo awamu n'ogwange; mmanyi enkomerero y'okutegana kwaffe. Omukristaayo ali mu kifo ky'atandireseeko wadde zaabu yonna ey'omu birombe bya Sipeyini. So toligobebwa ddayo, ne bwe wandibadde teri n'omu okugikusabira wabula nze; kubanga Kabaka eyantumidde nze n'abaana bange ye oyo atakuba mabega abo abamunoonya. Bw'oba oyagala nnaakupangisa, n'ogenda ng'omuweereza wange, ate n'ogabana buli kintu nange, kasita ogenda.

Okusaasira:—Naye mmanya ntya nti nnaayingizibwa? Singa nnalowoozezza nti nnaafuna obuyambi okuva eri Oyo obuyambi bwonna gye buva, sandiddewo, wabula nandigenze mangu, ekkubo ne bwe lyandibadde ekkalubo bwe lityo.

Christiana:—Kale, Okusaasira, nnaakubuulira kye njagala okole. Genda nange okutuuka ku Mulyango Omufunda, era eyo we nnaasabira; era bwe wataabeewo ssuubi lyonna lye balikuwa Oyo akuuma omulyango, oyinza okuddayo eka.

Okusaasira: Kale, nnaagenda naawe, era Mukama akkirize omukisa gwange okugwa mu kubeera mu nsi omutima gwange gwe gwegomba.

Awo Christiana n'asanyuka nti afunye omukwano okwegattako, era nti munne yali afaayo nnyo ku mmeeme ye.

Awo ne bagenda mu lugendo lwabwe; naye amaaso ga Okusaasira gaali ganakuwadde nnyo, Christiana n'amugamba nti, Kiki ekikuluma? Lwaki okaaba?

Okusaasira:—Ayi, ani atakaaba ng'alowooza ku mbeera y'emikwano gyange emyavu, egindiko era egy'omwagalwa, mu kibuga kyaffe ekibi?

Christiana:—Owulira ku mikwano gyo nga Omukristaayo wange omulungi bwe yampuliranga bwe yandeka, kubanga kyamuluma ku mutima okulaba nti nze saayagala kulaba bintu bino mu ngeri y'emu nga ye. Ne kaakano, ggwe, nze, n'abaana bano abaagalwa, tukungula ebibala by'okutegana kwe kwonna. Nsuubira, Okusaasira, nti amaziga go gano tegalifukibwa bwereere, kubanga Oyo atayinza kulimba, yagamba nti abo abasiga mu maziga balikungula mu ssanyu.

Awo Christiana bwe yatuuka ku Kinnya ky'Okuggwaamu-Essuubi, ye n'abaana be ne bayimirira, Christiana n'abagamba nti kino kye kifo Omukristaayo we yagwa. Naye Okusaasira n'ayogera nti, Mujje, tugezeeko; kye tulina okukola kwe kutunuulira bulungi amayinja ag'okulinnyako. Naye Christiana n'aserengetera omulundi gumu oba ebiri mu bitosi; naye oluvannyuma ne bawona ekinnya, awo ne bawulira eddoboozi nga libagamba nti: Aweereddwa omukisa oyo eyakkiriza, kubanga ebyo ebyamugambibwa okuva eri Mukama birituukirira.

Awo ne bagenda nate mu maaso, Okusaasira n'ayogera nti, Singa nnina ensonga ennungi ez'okusuubira okuyingira ku mulyango nga ggwe bw'olina, ndowooza teri Kinnya ky'Okuggwaamu-Essuubi kyandinziyizza.

Kale, Christiana bw'ayogera, ggwe omanyi ekiwundu kyo, nange mmanyi ekyange, era kunaaba kutegana kwa maanyi eri ffembi okutuuka ku nkomerero y'ekkubo; kubanga tuyinza tutya okulowooza nti abo abatandika olugendo olw'essanyu eringi bwe lityo, bandyewala okutya n'okweraliikirira ku kkubo lyabwe nga bagenda eri ekifo ekimasamasa kye bagenderera okutuukako?

Bwe baatuuka ku mulyango, kyabatwalako akaseera okuteekateeka kye bandyogedde eri Oyo eyayimiridde awo; era nga Okusaasira teyali mukulu nga munne, n'ayogera nti kisaana kisigale ku Christiana okwogerera bonna. Awo n'akonkona, ne kaakano (nga Omukristaayo) emirundi ebiri egirala; naye tewaali n'omu eyajja.

Awo ne bawulira embwa ng'ebooga n'obukambwe, ekyabakankanya olw'okutya, so ne batagezaako kwongera kukonkona mulundi gwakusatu, embwa erema okubalumba. Awo ne baweddemu amagezi okumanya kye bandikoze: okukonkona baali batya, olw'okutya embwa; n'okuddayo baali batya, Oyo akuuma omulyango aleme okubalaba nga bagenda, kiremeko okumusanyusa. Oluvannyuma ne bakonkona emirundi ena n'amaanyi okusinga emirundi egyasooka.

Awo Oyo eyayimirira ku mulyango n'ayogera nti, Ani ali eyo? Embwa n'eterawulirwa kubooga nate, n'omulyango ne guggulwa gaali okubayingiza.

Christiana n'afukamira, n'ayogera nti, Mukama waffe aleme okusunguwala kubanga tuleese oluyoogaano luno olunene ku mulyango gwe.

Ku kino n'ayogera nti: Muva wa, era kye mwagala kiki?

Christiana n'addamu: Tuva mu kibuga Omukristaayo mwe yava, okwegayirira okuyingizibwa ku mulyango guno, tulyoke tugende mu lugendo lwaffe eri Ekibuga eky'Eggulu. Nnali mukyala wa Omukristaayo, kaakano ali mu nsi ey'essanyu.

Awo, Oyo eyakuuma omulyango n'ayimusa emikono gye n'ayogera nti, Ki! Ono ali mu lugendo lwe eri Ekibuga eky'Eggulu, ye eyakyawa obulamu bw'ekifo ekyo akaseera katono ako akayise?

Awo Christiana n'akutamya omutwe gwe, n'ayogera nti, Yee, era n'abaana bano, abaana bange abaagalwa. Awo n'amukwata ku mukono n'amuyingiza; era abaana be abana bwe baamala okuyita, n'aggalawo omulyango. Bwe kyaggwa, n'agamba omusajja eyali okumpi nti, Fuuwa eŋŋombe olw'essanyu.

Naye kaakano nga Christiana awonye ayise omulyango n'abaana be, n'alowooza nti kiseera okwogera ekigambo ku lwa Okusaasira, kale n'ayogera nti, Mukama wange, nnina omukwano ayimiridde ku mulyango, eyazze wano n'obwesige bwe bumu nga bwe nnajja; oyo omutima gwe gunakuwadde okulowooza nti ajja, oboolyawo, ng'atatumiddwa; nga nze nnafuna obubaka okuva eri Kabaka wa Omukristaayo okujja.

Ebbanga lyalwa nnyo eri Okusaasira omwavu bwe yayimirira okuyingizibwa, ne bwe kyali kaseera katono, olw'okutya n'okubuusabuusa kyamulabika ng'essaawa emu ddala; era Christiana n'atayinza kwongera kwogerera Okusaasira eri Oyo eyakuuma omulyango olw'okukonkona, okwajja mangu, era ku nkomerero ne kuba n'amaanyi ennyo ne kukankanya Christiana.

Awo n'ayogera nti, Ani ali eyo?

Christiana n'addamu: Ye mukwano gwange.

Awo n'aggulawo omulyango okutunula ebweru, naye Okusaasira yali azirise, olw'okutya nti tandiyingizibbwa.

Awo n'amukwata ku mukono n'ayogera nti, Totya; yimirira mu bigere byo, ontegeeze gy'ova, era olw'ensonga ki?

Okusaasira:—Sijja nga munnange Christiana bw'ajja, kubanga saatumibwa Kabaka, era ntya nti ndi muvumu nnyo. Naye bwe wabaawo ekisa eky'okugabana, nkwegayiridde ondeke ngigabaneko.

Awo n'amukwata ku mukono nate n'amuyingiza, n'ayogera nti, Bonna bayinza okuyingira abanneesiga, ekkubo ne bwe liba erimu lyonna eribaleese wano.

Awo n'agamba abo abaali bayimiridde okumuleetera manemure, era mu kaseera n'awona.

Awo ne ndaba mu kirooto kyange ng'ayogera ebigambo ebirungi eri Okusaasira, Christiana, n'abaana be, asobole okusanyusa emitima gyabwe. Era n'abatwala ku ntikko y'omulyango, we yabalekera akaseera, Christiana n'ayogera nti: Ayi munnange omwagalwa, nsanyuse nnyo nga ffenna tuyingidde!

Okusaasira:—Kirungi obeere bw'otyo; naye okusinga byonna nze nnina ensonga ey'essanyu.

Christiana:—Nnalowooza omulundi gumu bwe nnayimirira ku mulyango, ne wataba n'omu eyanzeeko, nti okutegana kwaffe kwonna kwali kufudde bwereere.

Okusaasira:—Naye okutya kwange okusingayo kwajja bwe nnalaba Oyo eyakuuma omulyango ng'akuwa ky'oyagala, n'atassaayo mwoyo ku nze. Kino ne kinzijira mu birowoozo abo ababiri abaali basa ku lubengo lumu, era nga nze nze eyalekebwa; era ne kinnema okwewala okuleekaana nti, Nzibudde! Nzibudde!

Christiana:—Nnalowooza nti wandiyingidde lwa maanyi.

Okusaasira:—Ayi nze! Walaba nga oluggi lwaggalwa ku nze, era nga embwa enkambwe teri wala. Ani, ng'alina omutima omunafu nga ogwange, atandikonkonye n'amaanyi ge gonna? Naye, mbeegayiridde, Mukama wange yayogera ki ku luyoogaano luno olutasaana? Teyansunguwalira?

Christiana:—Bwe yawulira okukonkona kwo okw'amaanyi ku luggi n'amwenya; era mu ndowooza yange, kye wakola kyandimusanyusizza bulungi. Naye kizibu okuteebereza lwaki akuuma embwa ng'eyo. Singa nnabimanyi, ntya nti sandibadde na kwagala kujja. Naye kaakano nga tuyingidde, tuli mirembe; era nsanyuse n'omutima gwange gwonna.

Omu ku baana ba Christiana n'ayogera nti: Nkwegayiridde saba embwa esibibwe olujegere, kubanga eneetuluma bwe tunaava wano.

Awo Oyo eyakuuma omulyango n'aserengeta gye bali nate, Okusaasira n'agwa amaaso ge ku ttaka, n'ayogera nti, Ayi, leka ntendereze era nsiime Mukama n'emimwa gyange!

Awo n'amugamba nti, Emirembe gibe naawe; yimirira.

Naye n'agaana okugolokoka okutuusa lwe yawulira okuva gy'ali lwaki yakuuma embwa enkambwe bw'etyo mu luggya. N'amugamba nti si ye nannyini mbwa, naye nti yasibirwa mu luggya lw'oyo eyabeeranga okumpi. Mu mazima, n'ayogera, tekuumibwa lwa mwoyo mulungi eri nze oba abange, wabula okuleetera abo abajja wano okudda emabega ku mulyango gwange olw'eddoboozi lyayo. Naye singa wabadde omanyi ebingi ebikwata ku nze, tewanditidde mbwa. Omuntu omwavu ayita ku nnyumba n'endala, olw'ebiweebwayo, aneegatta ku kabi k'okulumwa embwa; ate embwa yandikuziyizza okujja gye ndi?

Okusaasira:—Nnayogera ku kye ssaamanya; naye, Mukama, mmanyi nti bye okola byonna obikola bulungi.

Awo Christiana n'agolokoka ng'agenda okukwata olugendo lwe. Awo n'abaliisa, n'abateeka mu kkubo ettuufu, nga bwe yakola eri Omukristaayo. Era bwe baali bagenda, Christiana n'ayimba oluyimba: “Amaziga gaffe tugakyusa okufuuka essanyu, n'okutya kwaffe okufuuka okukkiriza.”

Baali tebannagenda wala bwe baalaba emiti egy'ebibala, amatabi gaagyo nga gawanikibwa okuva ku ntikko y'ekisenge ekyazimbibwa okwetooloola oluggya lw'oyo eyakuuma embwa enkambwe, era oluusi abo abayita mu kkubo eryo baagiryanga ne kibaleetera akabi. Kale nga gali gaŋŋenvu, abaana ba Christiana ne bagakuba wansi ne balya ebimu ku byo; wadde nga Christiana yabajerega, n'ayogera nti, Ebibala ebyo si byaffe. Naye teyamanyi mu kiseera ekyo nannyini byo. Naye abaana ne beeyongera okubirya.

Awo bwe baali bagenze akabanga katono okuva mu kifo ekyo, ne balaba abasajja babiri, abajja mangu nga baserengeta olusozi n'endabika ey'obuvumu okubasisinkana. Awo Christiana ne munne Okusaasira ne bassa ebitimba byabwe, ne beeyongera mu lugendo lwabwe, abaana ne bakulembera. Awo abasajja ne bajja gye bali, naye Christiana n'ayogera nti: Muddeyo emabega, oba muyite mu mirembe, nga bwe kisaana. Naye ne batassaayo mwoyo ku bigambo bye n'akatono, ng'abatawulira.

Christiana, eyali tayagala ndabika yaabwe, n'ayogera nti, Twanguyiriza, era tetuyinza kubeerawo; omulimu gwaffe gwa bulamu na kufa. Awo ye n'abalala ne bagezaako nate okuyitawo, naye abasajja ne batabakkiriza. Awo n'eddoboozi limu bonna ne baleeta okukaaba okunene. Kale, nga tebali wala na Mulyango Omufunda, ne bawulirwa okuva mu kifo ekyo, era abamu ku abo abaali mu nnyumba ne bafuluma mangu okukwata abasajja bano ababi; ne kaakano ne babuuka ekisenge, ne batuuka mirembe mu luggya embwa mwe yakuumibwa.

Omutaasa:—Kyali kitya nti bwe mwali ku mulyango temwasaba Oyo eyayimirira awo okubatwala mu lugendo lwammwe, n'okubakuuma eri akabi? Singa mwakola bwe mutyo temwandiyise mu ntiisa zino, kubanga yandibawadde ddala kye mwayagala.

Christiana:—Ayi, Ssebo, essanyu lye twawulira bwe twayingizibwa, lyagoba mu birowoozo byaffe okutya kwonna okw'ebijja. Era twandirowoozezza tutya nti abasajja ababi bwe batyo bandyekwese mu kifo ng'ekyo? Mazima, kyandibadde kirungi gye tuli singa twalowooza okumusaba; naye nga Mukama waffe yali amanyi nti kyandibadde kya kutugasa, kyagenda kitya nti teyatuma muntu kutuwerekera?

Omutaasa:—Temwasaba. Obwetaavu bw'ekintu bwe buwulirwa, ekyo kye twagala kibeera n'omuwendo omungi okusingawo.

Christiana:—Tuddeyo eri Mukama wange tumugambe nti twandyagadde okuba ab'amagezi okusingawo, era tusabe omukuumi?

Omutaasa:—Temwetaaga kudda mabega, kubanga tewali kifo kyonna gye munaagenda gye mulifuna obwetaavu n'akatono.

Bwe yamala okwogera kino n'abasiibula, n'abalala ne bagenda mu lugendo lwabwe.

Okusaasira:—Nga kino kya kunakuwaza! Nnali nkakasa nti twali tuyise obulabe bwonna, era nti tetwandirabye kweraliikirira nate.

Christiana:—Obuvubuka bwo buyinza okukwezaako, munnange, ne bukukuuma eri okunenyezebwa; naye nze, omusango gwange musingako obubi kubanga nnali mmanyi ekyandibaddewo nga sinnava ku luggi lwange. Okusaasira:—Naye wakimanya otya kino nga tonnava?

Christiana:—Kale, nnaakubuulira. Ekiro kimu bwe nnali ngalamidde ku kitanda, nnaloota ekirooto, mwe nnalabira ebintu byonna nga bwe bibaddewo kaakano.