I got a loan to wed

Allan Michael Rwamulungi and his wife Sarah Najjemba after exchanging vows at Full Gospel Church-Katwe, Masaka . COURTESY PHOTO 

By Shamim J. Nakawooya
Posted 


Sunday, May 1 

2016 at 

01:00

In Summary

Together forever. In a bid to impress his wife and strengthen their relationship, Allan Michael Rwamulungi, a primary school teacher, secured a loan and wedded Sarah Najjemba, a nursery school teacher, after dating for four years. The couple has been together for seven years and share their story with Shamim J. Nakawooya.

When and how did you meet?
Allan: I met Sarah in 2004 when I had just completed college. We used to pray from the same church, she was a family friend and we were both in the worship team.

When did the two of you eventually become close?
Allan: We spent four years in courtship. I used to visit her. When she lost one of her parents, she dropped out of school.
Sarah told me that she wanted to go back to school. As I was thinking about it Suzan Okalanyi, a good Samaritan who was the Masaka state attorney offered to pay for her education up to Senior Three. My family and I agreed to pick up from Senior Four up to college. So, that is how we became very close and got into a relationship.

Sarah: After the death of my father, I started living with Allan’s parents in Masaka where I was studying from. I would go back home in Sseguku, Wakiso for holidays. I liked him and his family because they embraced me when I was desperate. They made me what I am.

How was the proposal, when was it and how did you react?
Allan: After she had completed college, I proposed to her but she did not take it seriously until I started buying goodies to take for our introduction ceremony.
Sarah: When I saw him draw an introduction budget, I felt he was serious and accepted his proposal. I love him and felt he deserved to be mine.

What attracted you to each other?
Allan: Sarah is hardworking and she had gone through many challenges meaning she is resilient. She is also beautiful- I like her body shape.
Sarah: He is handsome, respectful, loving, caring and reserved.

What was your budget and how did you raise the funds?
Allan: I’m a government primary school teacher, I secured a three-million salary loan and bought some marriage requirements. We also got contributions from family, friends and church members. Things were not costly in 2009, we raised Shs8m for the wedding.
Sarah: I spent so much on the introduction ceremony. By then, I had a job from which I saved some money plus top up from cash rounds and the school where I teach contributed a great deal. I altogether raised Shs5m.
What was the most expensive item?
Allan : The reception venue and food which cost Shs2m.
Sarah: The gown because I hired it at Shs 400, 000.

Did you involve a wedding planner?
Allan : No, friends helped me during the wedding meetings.
Sarah : Yes, I used my brother who planned for each and every thing for the introduction.

What were you doing on the wedding eve?
Allan : There were missing items which I had to cater for since I did not have a planner. I felt much pressure on that day.
Sarah: I was home with my friends and relatives enjoying the eve, some people brought for me gifts, they were happy about my forthcoming wedding.

Were you disappointed in anyway during the wedding?
Allan: Yes, we had planned to get the food from outside the hotel, we only had to pay for the venue but two weeks to the wedding, the hotel management said we were not allowed to bring food from outside. Theirs was very costly much as people ate but not like as we had planned for them.
Sarah: I was disappointed by the photographer and even the person who baked our cake. We expected a bigger cake and decorations than what they came up with.

Did you go for premarital counselling and what did you learn from it?
Allan: We went to Full Gospel Church Katwe – Masaka, we spent three months. I learnt that it was just the beginning of learning about each other’s personalities yet I thought I knew my wife better. We learn more about people we live with, when we spend more time together.
Sarah: I learnt that care, humility, patience, prayer, trust for each other and respect for my husband are the key to a happy marriage.

Did you think of going for a honeymoon as vital?
Allan: Yes, it is, but the place we had booked turned out to be very costly so we decided to spend it in a new rented house.

What is your advice to those planning to wed?
Allan: Those who wish to wed must be ready for the wedding, let them not fail to wed because they want to do the kind of expensive weddings they watch on TV.
God is only looking at righteousness and your willingness to be repentant.
You may make the people happy and after the wedding you begin begging, our budget was small but we made our day happen.
Sarah: They do not need to secure loans for weddings; they can save money with help of friends to fulfill their wedding dreams.

The details
Date : September 26, 2009
Bride : Sarah Najjemba
Groom : Allan Michael Rwamulungi
Church: Full Gospel Church Katwe-Masaka
Guests : 300
Reception: Golf Lane Hotel-Masaka
Rings: Shs 50,000
Cake: Shs150,000.
Budget: Shs 8m

Titbits
Cake
Deogratias baked the nine-tier cake whose base was adorned with blue ribbons to fit the colour theme.

Groom attire
Allan bought his white suit from Diplomat Suit Designers, Kampala. His blue shirt, tie and pocket square looked vibrant and blended with the day’s theme.