From childhood, I grew up surrounded by different Christian traditions. In my family, there was no single denominational identity. I was exposed to Catholicism, Anglicanism, and Pentecostalism from an early age.
I was baptized in the Catholic Church, and most Sundays followed a familiar pattern: morning Mass, then returning home. Life continued normally after that, those with businesses opened them, and at school we sometimes still had classes on Sundays.
But my family background was even more diverse. On my maternal side, my grandfather was Anglican, while his wife was Catholic, and one of his sisters was Pentecostal.
On my paternal side, my father and grandfather were Catholic, yet even there, one of my great-grandparents was Muslim.
My mother and most of her siblings were Catholic too, though others leaned Anglican or Pentecostal.
In practice, there was no strict religious uniformity. Everyone seemed connected to Christianity, yet expressed it differently.
On my father’s side, however, Catholicism felt like the only option. It was strict and structured, almost like a fixed system you were expected to follow without question.
Reciting the rosary was not optional; it was a requirement. Missing it could lead to punishment, even missing dinner. It often felt less like personal faith and more like obligation.
By contrast, when I stayed on my mother’s side, things were more flexible. I was free to move between churches, attend different services, and observe how different denominations worshipped.
I attended Anglican services in Ntuntu, Kitagwenda and also Pentecostal gatherings at Mungumwema in Kabujogera.
That exposure opened my mind and raised many questions.
I began to wonder: Why do Anglicans and Pentecostals not believe in the Pope? Why do they reject the veneration of images, the rosary, saints, and martyrs, yet still consider themselves Christians? And why do all these groups worship on the same day but disagree on so many practices?
These questions stayed with me, but I had no clear answers at the time.
A Change of School, A Change of Direction
After completing primary school, I joined secondary school at the then St. Lawrence Citizens High School Campus of the late Professor Lawrence Mukiibi.
During school holiday, I would travel to Kyotera, not far from Masaka, to visit my father for school fees.
It was during one of these visits that something unexpected happened, something I later came to see as a blessing in disguise.
Instead of giving me school fees for the next term, my father decided to transfer me to another school without any discussions. It was a new school, and the proprietor was a Seventh-day Adventist (SDA).
I reported on a Sunday, like I had always done in other schools. But by Friday, I noticed something unusual.
While Muslims had their prayers, school activities ended early, around 3pm. When I asked why, I was told it was time to prepare for the Sabbath.
That was my first real encounter with the Seventh-day Adventist Church and its way of life.
First Encounter with Sabbath Worship
On Friday evenings, around 5:45 p.m., all students gathered in the chapel. There was a short but meaningful time of praise, song, and brief sermons from the pastor.
Attendance was mandatory, as it was part of the school program.
After chapel, we went for supper and then returned to our dormitories.
Unlike other days, there was no studying or work permitted during Sabbath hours until 6pm. Instead, Friday evenings were often used for personal preparation, like washing clothes and getting ready for the sacred time ahead.
On Saturday morning, everything felt different. Students dressed neatly, carried their Bibles and notebooks, and gathered again for worship at chapel.
The day began with Sabbath School, followed by Bible study and song service. Later came the divine service around midday.
The main service took about 45 to an hour, and afterward we broke for lunch.
The atmosphere was calm, structured, and deeply reflective.
Life slowed down in a way I had never experienced before.
And just like that, the Sabbath became part of my weekly rhythm.
To be continued……………………………….
