Deaf preacher of the Word

WHAT a dream! I do not feel worthy and wonder at God’s grace and gift of wisdom. I have no regrets for being deaf,” says Rev. David Bulime, a priest for the deaf.
On December 7, Bulime was the first deaf person in Uganda to be ordained a priest at Namirembe Cathedral.

Two years back, Bulime was ordained deacon of the Immanuel Church of the Deaf located on Plot 454 Kyadondo Road, between Mengo Primary School and Namirembe Infants School.

During our meeting at the Immanuel Bible Training Centre for the Deaf, the confident priest started the interview by quoting from the Bible: “You did not choose me, but I chose you and appointed you to go and bear fruit – fruit that will last. Then the Father will give you whatever you ask in my name.” – John 15:16. While Cissy Namayanja interpreted.

Bulime says, “As God chose Moses and Abraham, so too did He choose him to reach out to the deaf. The deaf need to know about the love of God.”

Bulime, the seventh child of the late James and Joyce Wamala of Mukono District, Bulime was born normal but become deaf in at the age of 24, in September 1938.

“It all happened when I had gone to attend the last funeral rites of my friend’s father in Najjanankumbi,” says Bulime.

“While I was dozing, a buzzing sound woke me up. I tried to brush it off, but it kept on coming back.

The buzzing sound and the noise from the people who had come for the ceremony kept me awake until the early hours of the morning.”

“I woke up at around 7:30am and found myself lying on the ground. This embarrassed me and I rushed off to wash my face. To my disbelief I discovered that I had lost my sense of hearing.”

“I pulled my ears in all directions and banged my head thinking that something had become dislodged in my hearing system, but still I could not hear anything.”

Subsequent tests showed that Bulime had lost 65-70 decibels in both ears overnight.

“I was totally shattered, became confused and lost all sense of direction and hopes for the future,” he says.

At that time, Bulime who had just started a course at the Institute of Bankers in Kampala, found he could not continue with his studies.

From then, he says, life became very difficult for him and there was nothing he did not do to try to regain his sight, but all was in vain.
Soon Bulime lost his self esteem as family and friends shunned him believing he had been bewitched.

“One day I entered my room ready to commit suicide, but as I was getting the rope to hang myself, I contemplated life after death and wondered whether I was ready to undergo eternal suffering in hell after my demise, which I felt was worse compared to what I was going through.”

I dropped the idea and ended up giving my life to Jesus when I recalled the scripture in Mathew 11:28 which says, “Come unto me all ye who are tired and heavy laden and I will give you rest.”

Bulime began serving God in 1992, after he met someone on his way to seek a teaching job, who advised him to join the Uganda National Association of the Deaf (UNAD).

In 1990, Bulime says he got a vision from God to minister to the deaf, but felt he was not worthy of the challenge. So he continued looking for employment.

Meanwhile, he went to the association for the deaf in 1992, hoping to get hearing aids so that he could continue with his banking studies.

“Edreke Ssendagire who was the chairman then, asked me to come and share the word of God with them. This marked the beginning of my ministerial calling.”

“What happened to me has served to advance the gospel,” says Bulime quoting Philippians 1:12. “I am now confide that the plans of God are being fulfiled in my life.”
Apart from being a priest, Bulime is also the director of Deaf Ministries International, Uganda.

The problem disabled people face is not their disability, but how society regards them,” Bulime says.
Immanuel Church of the Deaf was started in 1973, as a charity for the deaf of Uganda, but could not continue due to political instability until 1993, when it was revived.

About 100 deaf people regularly attend the Sunday church service, conducted in sign language with interpretation for visitors who have their hearing.

The church has expanded to over 10 districts in the country and has an out-reach ministry for schools for the deaf.

Bulime is married with three sons.
“I thank God for what he has done for me,” the happy priest concludes.