The reigning President of Namirembe Diocese Mothers Union, Nalongo Biingi Roseline Kawiso and her husband Ssalongo Biingi Julius Kawiso are now a silver jubilarian couple.

They wedded at St. John’s Church of Uganda, Kijjabwemi (greater Masaka) on December 19, 1998. Relatedly, they celebrated their 25^th marriage anniversary on December 20, last year (2023).

Activities started with a thanksgiving service at St. Paul’s Cathedral Namirembe. The Cathedral function was presided over by the Archbishop of the Church of the Province of Uganda, the Most Rev. Samuel Stephen Kaziimba Mugalu.

Ssalongo Julius and Nalongo Roseline Biingi Kawiso with their children. Photo by Mathias Mazinga

Anglican prelates such as Bishop Dr. James Bukomeko Ssalongo of Mityana, Bishop Emeritus George Sinnabulyua and Bishop Emeritus Nathan Kyamanywa from Bunyoro-Kitara also graced the function. About four Christian choral groups including Mary Sumner Choir, Mothers Union Choir, Saints Choir Mutundwe, and Elite Gospel Choir animated the function.

One particular marvel of the function was the incredibly massive turn-out of people from various walks of life who including Buganda Kingdom officials such as the kingdom’s finance minister Robert Wagwa Nsibirwa, Hon. Coltida Nakate Kikomeko, Hon. Robert Sserwanga, central government officials such as the State Minister for Public Service Mary Grace Mugasa and her husband Aloysius Mugasa, and Hon. Beatrice Byenkya Nyakaisiki, just to name a few.

The function brought together the rich, the poor, the highly learned, and the modestly learned. The guests were also from various religious denominations including the Roman Catholic Church, Muslims, and Born-again Christians.

After the Thanksgiving service, the Kawisos hosted their guests to a grandiose reception at Ddungu Resort Beach, Munyonyo – Mulungu (in Makindye Division).

Ssalongo Julius and Nalongo Roseline Biingi Kawiso. Photo by Mathias Mazinga

The popular Afrigo Band provided cabaret entertainment as the guests of the Kawisos took their food and drinks. The Kawisos were also a phenomenon in their disposition. They looked younger than their age as they made their way to the reception by boat. So, how did they meet? What has helped them to stay together for 25 years?

Nalongo Biingi Roseline Kawiso

My dear husband and I first met in 1984 at Kitara Secondary School in Hoima, where both of us were students. Of course, initially, we were just friends. But eventually, the friendship developed into a healthy love relationship.  

By the time we finished S4, even my maternal aunt, Princess Elina Kabagahya with whom I was staying had noticed the extraordinary closeness I had with Julius. Aunt was a tough woman who never entertained those boyfriend/girlfriend things.

In fact, she had asked me to report to her any boy who would attempt to take advantage of me. One day my brother Chris Biribona got me in trouble with aunt.

He found Julius accompanying me and went straight home and informed aunt. From then, aunt devised a strategy to keep us apart. So, when I finished S4, she took me to stay with my sister Dr. Eva Kajumba Muganga and her husband Ow’ekitiibwa Johan Baptist Muganga in Kampala.

They then got me a vacancy at Lubiri SS. Julius remained in Hoima. Interestingly, he maintained the communication. It was not very easy as there were no mobile phones or internet then.

He just wrote me letters through the Post office which also took long to reach me. Sometimes he also made his way to Kampala to see me.

After S6, around 1992, I was supposed to join Nakawa Business School but my aunt took me to UCC Kabale because Julius had joined Makerere University. But love is love. This too never cut off our connection. Julius was now even more determined to marry me and he always gifted me with pocket money and material things like dresses.

When I finished my diploma, I also started visiting Julius in Kampala; and it was not long before a mistake happened and I became pregnant. Julius and I got puzzled. But anyway, we agreed that I go to my parents, tell them the truth and also request them to allow us to marry. But aunt just got infuriated and refused to listen to me.

We had no alternative but to start cohabiting. But God was so good that after getting our second child, the parents allowed us to do our introduction and wedding, strictly within one month.

Our wedding took place at St. John’s Church of Uganda, Kijjabwemi on December 19, 1998. We opted to have our wedding in Masaka to give a chance to all our friends to attend.

You know I was then working with BAT in Rukungiri where Julius had got me a job through a friend.  Julius was working with Uganda Breweries in Masaka. Julius has the gift of making friends and by then he had very many of them in Masaka and actually, they are the ones who convinced him to do the wedding there. They even got us Bishop Yokana Mukasa (RIP) to wed us.

I gave in to Julius because he proved to be very genuine. He really loved me. He provided for me and gave me the encouragement and confidence to work hard and succeed.

  I was an orphan with no father, no mother. So, I always found solace in his loving care and generosity.  I felt like he was filling the gap, playing the role of my parents. And he was never selfish when we were dating. He was generally patient and serious about marriage.

By the way he was also a very handsome boy with that American height. In fact, all the girls in our school were falling for him, but he preserved himself for me.

And interestingly, he would tell me which girl enticed her when and how he repelled her manoeuvres. And he would not hesitate to assure me that I was his chosen wife even with the many girls that were eyeing him. I thank God for giving me the man I desired.

I also thank the Lord for the gift of our children who include Pius Kawiso, Counsel Patricia Nakitandwe Sserwanga, the twins Patience Nakato and Paul Wasswa, and Pearl Katusabe.

Advice

Our young people who desire to marry should first make sure that they are really in love with their intended spouse. Today many people go into marriage with wrong motives such as money, status, power, prestige. This is wrong.

Parents should also remember to play their role. First do research about the holistic reputation of the family your child wants to marry from. Also consider the level of education of your son or daughter in-law. With sufficient education and character, the couple can work and become successful even if they start from scratch. The factor of faith is also of utmost importance.

It is preferable that the spouses belong to the same faith so that they can conveniently pray together, minister together. The spouses should also practice mutual faith. For example, when we were beginning, Julius used to work in Kampala and I was in Rukungiri but none of us messed.

If you act in an exemplary manner, you attract friends. Julius and I have very many friends and actually, they are the ones who gave us all the money, over one-hundred million that we used for our function.

Even after about three months since our wedding anniversary function, our friends are still sending us money. Somebody calls you and apologizes for not attending, then they send you sh1m, sh2m. Can you imagine?  To God be the Glory.

Julius’ Testimony

My name is Ssalongo Biingi Julius Kawiso and by the Grace of God I am the husband to the Namirembe Diocese Mothers Union President.

Our relationship started very long ago and I believe it is by God’s doing because I am a Mugwere from Kibuku district. But my sister took me to Hoima where I met Roseline, in a secondary school.

You know my dad was becoming weak and my sister wanted to ease his school fees burden. I attended Duhaga Boys PS. I later joined Kitara SSS and it is there that I met Roseline. But after S4, she went to Kampala and joined Lubiri SS and I joined Sir Tito Owiny SS. In any case, we kept interacting, writing to each other as friends.

After completing her tertiary studies, she came to stay with me and we started exploring opportunities for marriage.

Rose was a beautiful girl when I looked at her. She had all the qualities I wanted. She was God-fearing, her family background in Homa was stable. She loved God and the people. She possessed the much-desired human qualities of respect, generosity and hard work.

Advice

Young people who want to marry should take some good time to study their prospective spouses. Today many of our young Christians are impatient and as a result, they marry people with irreconcilable differences that lead to the collapse of their marriage.

Some spouses have failed to effectively exercise the virtues of tolerance, trust, and forgiveness.  For us, we trust each other so much that none of us checks the other’s telephone text messages!  And of course, we are human. If you offend or annoy your spouse, it costs you nothing to say sorry!  You should also be ready to forgive, all the time.

What the Prelates Say

The Rt. Rev.  Nathan Kyamanywa – Bishop of Bunyoro-Kitara

I thank the almighty God for the exemplary marriage of our brother and sister, Julius and Roseline Kawiso. They are really committed to their marriage and the service of the Church. By the way they have a number of homes; in Bukedi, Namirembe, Bunyoro-Kitara. Surprisingly they fulfill their responsibilities in all those dioceses.

God has blessed them with money but they have remained humble. You know sometimes money and power intoxicate people. The Kawisos are also people-minded people, that is why they are able to attract people of all tribes, sociopolitical statuses and religious affiliations.

Archbishop Samuel Stephen Kaziimba Mugalu

Our Sister Roseline is an exemplary leader. If she were not, she would not be leading Mothers Union. We thank our brother Julius for allowing her to serve the Church further to supporting her.

Through the celebration of their 25^th marriage anniversary, the Kawisos are practically telling us that even in the midst of the contemporary socio-economic challenges, marriage is still possible.

Bishop Moses Banja (Prelate of Namirembe Diocese)

We pay tribute to our sister Roseline and her husband Julius Kawiso for their contribution to the ministry of the Church. Together they have preached the gospel. They have provided leadership to God’s people. They have worked hard and ably sustained themselves and their family.

The Kawisos in the eyes of their children

Pius Kawiso

God enabled our parents to have virtues such as patience, tolerance and forgiveness which have enabled them to prevail over the common marital challenges.

You know there is no righteous human being and I am sure our parents are also not absolutely perfect. And there are also times when the family has had challenges such as financial scarcity, but daddy and mummy have always remained steadfast in their marital commitment and we praise God for this.

Patricia Serwanga

Daddy and mummy are a wonderful couple. They are always together. They work in unity in each and everything. Even when they are visiting, they show up together. And if one of them is away, the other will always be uneasy, trying to find out where the other is. There is a lot of communication between them. Their love is sincere, and perfect.

Paul Wasswa Kawiso

We the children are marveled by how much our parents take care of each other. They wish the best for themselves and their children. For example, my twin-sister Patience and I went to Kampala Parents and Uganda Martyrs SS Namugongo!  Even if it is diet, they want us to have the best.

Patience Nakato

Daddy and mummy love each other genuinely. You know, under normal circumstances when a couple grows older, they also tend to grow apart. This is not the case with our parents. In fact, if you see how they behave towards each other, you can think they are newly married! Imagine even this Valentine’s Day they exchanged flowers! They throw each other surprise dinners and gifts on the various anniversaries, a perfect demonstration of their mutual affection.

Elvis Sserwanga

Daddy and mummy are very welcoming people. As a son-in-law, I have experienced their warm hospitality from a personal experience. I also marvel at their deep devotion and support to the Anglican Church. And of course, they love us. They check on us at least once a week.

Fortunate Kawiso

Our parents have always been a source of inspiration for us though their wise counsel and good examples. Surely, we have an uphill task of emulating their exemplary marriage. They have effectively put in practice the principles of mutual love, mutual help and mutual companionship. Even after 25 years in their marriage, they look and behave like a newly-wed couple.

The Kawiso in the eyes of their Associates

Katikkiro Charles Peter Mayiga (Buganda Kingdom)

To be the husband of a leader calls for great humility. This is why I congratulate my friend Ssalongo Julius Biingi Kawiso. I also congratulate his dear wife Roseline, who is the leader of Mothers Union, Namirembe diocese.

There is no doubt, Julius and Roseline understood well the gift of marriage, its purpose and responsibilities.

They have loved each other, produced children, educated them, equipped them with morals and virtues such as human solidarity, respect for others, hard work. Julius and Roseline have demonstrated the beauty of human co-existence. They relate with all people without paying attention to their tribe, religion, political affiliation or social status. We need to emulate them.

Fr. Dennis Warren Kibalama (Roman Catholic cleric)

I came to know Roseline and Julius Kawiso when I was appointed to Mutundwe parish as parish priest. Roseline and Julius are Anglicans but I worked with them harmoniously in the spirit of ecumenism.

We did many projects with them in the area of faith and social development. I thank them for acknowledging our common humanity and fatherhood in God, which transcends all our differences. I actually attended their reception at Ddungu Resort to show my solidarity with them.

Dr. Ssemafumu Edward (Chairman, Tukolerewamu Social Club)

On behalf of Tuko Club and on my own behalf, I conglutinate Ssalongo and Nalongo Biingi on their 25^th wedding anniversary. We thank God for the gift of marriage; a way of life to which they have dedicated their life. Through this calling, they have been an example and an inspiration to many married couples.

We thank God for the blessings of marriage that he has given them including the children. We also thank him for enabling them to overcome the various trials and temptations that come with the calling of marriage. As Tuko Club our motto has always been, “Tuko for Stable Families”. The celebration today is a manifestation of stability in the Biingi family. We thank Julius and Roseline Biingi  for nurturing that stability in their family and in other Tuko families.