My wife is my sight — Kizito

It was way back in 2004, when Grace Nassozi, 30, a gospel artiste, met her future blind husband, Patrick Kizito, 33, at a gospel musical show. After the show, she offered to give him a helping hand, not knowing that by doing so, she was sowing love seeds, which later became too strong to resist. Samuel Lutwama brings you their story.

Common destiny 
Kizito was born to the late Patrick Nabangi and Margret Nalwanga of Buddo, Kitemu in 1979. He was the second in a family of five children. In Primary Five at Buddo Preparatory School, he developed high blood pressure, which affected his sight and forced him out of school. 

In 1999, his condition deteriorated and he completely lost his sight. Consequently, Kizito found life unbearable and this drove him to Christ. Soon, he started singing in churches and it was through music that he met his wife Nassozi, who also happened to be a gospel artiste. 

Nassozi, on the other hand, was raised in a strong Christian family in Najjanankumbi, a Kampala suburb, where she developed a passion for reaching out to the needy. When she met her future husband in 2004, she knew destiny had beckoned and, therefore, she had to follow.         

How it started
Although it is commonly said that love is blind, for Nassozi, it is sympathy that drew her closer to the blind man. “I became concerned about his plight. Soon, I found myself escorting him to musical engagements. Although I was compassionate about his plight, marrying him was far from my mind. During that time, some people assumed I was already in love with him, which was not the case. One day, he proposed to me and I turned him down, although I continued being there for him,” Nassozi recalls. 

With time, however, the special attachment Nassozi had to Kizito became their binding factor. 

Kizito, on the other hand, says it was Nassozi’s tender care that attracted him to her.  “Although I did not know what she looked like, I was touched by the love she showed me and I started thinking that she was destined to be my wife,” he says.  

Criticism from family, Friends
At the beginning of their love affair, Nassozi faced a lot of criticism from her family and friends, who could not understand why she was tying her future to a blind man. But for Nassozi, this was a choice made by God. “I felt an inner voice from God and later had a dream that confirmed to me that Kizito would be my husband,” she says.

Wedding cancelled
Continuous pressure from their families led to the cancellation of their wedding. However, several months later, Nassozi confronted her relatives and made it clear that Kizito was her choice. In February 2005, they took their vows at the Victory Church in Ndeeba, followed by a colourful reception at Najjanankumbi. “I witnessed God’s providence at our wedding. We received donations from people of all walks of life, including pastors,” she recalls.

After the wedding, she became Kizito’s permanent escort. “The first thing that came to my mind was to look at him with normal lenses. Caring for him became my life ministry,” Nassozi says.

When the couple started having children, financial constraints set in. “The first years of our marriage were challenging since singing was our only source of income. However, what kept me going was the fact that God was the author of our marriage,” she says. 

Helping the needy 
After seeing the suffering her husband endured, Nassozi resolved to reach out to the needy. Today, their home in Kitemu on Kampala-Masaka Road) is home to several orphans.  “With inspiration from God, we started His Grace Orphanage Centre. Although it is still in infancy, we hope God will give us the resources to run it,” she says confidently.

Coping with blindness
Looking after a blind husband and three children has not been easy for Nassozi. “Sometimes he falls or knocks things in the house, but my children and I are quick to help him,” she says. 

Another challenge has been dealing with Kizito’s bouts of depression. “He easily gets irritated over trivial issues. But I know that God who started it all will deal with our imperfections,” Nassozi.

However, she praises her husband for being innovative, despite his disability.  “He composes songs with our family guitar,” she says.

Kizito also set up income-generating projects such as brick making, to support his family. 

Disability is not inability 
According to Nassozi, no one is disabled. “God gave us different gifts to empower our weaknesses. People with disabilities should use their gifts to improve their life.  

Kizito’s music ministry 
When he became totally blind, Kizito wondered what his future would be like. He decided to seek answers by singing about his personal experiences. So far, he has eight gospel musical albums to his name, which earned him social acclaim in Pentecostal churches. On July 8, the couple will stage a musical concert dubbed, Yansumulula, at Emerald Hotel on Bombo Road (near Bat Valley), to raise funds for their orphanage. 

An empowering life experience
Nassozi cherishes the journey she has travelled with her husband. She says she has gained social respect, not for anything else, but because of their marriage. Kizito, on the other hand, says: “Through my wife, I gained back my sight.” 

On the choice of marriage partner, the couple advises: “You will always have critical voices in your life. Sieve them and make your own choice. Accept the working of God in your personal choice.”