By Bwambale Deusi, C.S.C.
My name is Bwambale Deusi, C.S.C. I was born on the 30th of April 1994, in Nyakabugha village, Ibanda, Kasese District in Western Uganda. My parents, Mbusa Melchizedek and Ithungu Suzan, raised me in a household of seven children—four sons and three daughters—who have been a steadfast wellspring of fraternal support and divine inspiration. My father, a devoted Catechist, and my mother, a fervent member of the Legion of Mary, instilled in us from infancy the sacred traditions of the Catholic faith and an abiding love for the Church. The rhythm of our domestic life was marked by the devout recitation of morning and evening prayers, as well as the Holy Rosary. Though these spiritual exercises were at times arduous and required parental guidance, they imprinted upon my soul a profound disposition toward piety, which in time became the fertile ground from which my religious vocation would spring forth.
My initiation into the life of the Church commenced with the Sacrament of Baptism on October 17, 1996, the same day my parents committed to each other through the sacrament of Holy Matrimony. This divine filiation was further ratified by my First Holy Communion, received during the Easter Vigil of April 20, 2003, and later sealed by the Sacrament of Confirmation on October 29, 2006. These sacred milestones marked the dawn of an ever-deepening relationship with God and the Church.
In my childhood, like many children, I entertained various aspirations—some momentary, others more enduring. Upon encountering priests, doctors, teachers, soldiers, carpenters, and policemen, I was moved by a childlike admiration, desiring at different times to emulate each of them. Yet, while other ambitions faded with the passage of time, the illumination of reason, and the recognition of my own limitations, the call to the priesthood remained undiminished. I was reared in a parish that was evangelized by the Congregation of the Apostles of Jesus. Though I initially discerned little distinction between diocesan and religious priesthood, my attraction to this sacred vocation was nurtured by manifold graces: the spiritual mentorship of my family, the luminous example of missionary priests, the guidance of a diocesan deacon who directed me to the Vocations Director, and the steadfast encouragement of devout friends. Like the first disciples, my initial motivations were neither profound nor entirely purified; rather, they were stirred by the external witness of holy priests—their manner of life, their zeal for souls, and their radiant joy in service.
In 2008, having completed my Primary Leaving Examinations at Bright Light Primary School in Kasese (an affiliate of Bikone Primary School), I made my first attempt to enter the seminary. Though I successfully passed the interviews, my parents, constrained by insufficient funds, could not afford the required fees. Thus, I pursued my Lower Secondary Education at Rwenzori High School in Kasese from 2009 to 2012. Yet, the flame of my vocation was not extinguished. Sustained by my parents’ promise that I might later enter the seminary for advanced studies, I remained fervent in apostolic movements and parish activities. By divine providence, I was admitted to St. John’s Minor Seminary in Kasese for my Higher Secondary Education from 2013–2014. These years were marked by both trial and grace, particularly when financial hardship nearly prevented me from completing my final examinations. Only through the compassionate negotiation of the seminary rector, Fr. Kojo Francis, and my Parish Priest, Fr. Ajiga Caxton, was I permitted to return in the final weeks to sit for my exams, trusting in God’s providence for the clearance of fees.
Upon completing my Advanced Level Studies, I had yet to encounter any religious congregation, much less the Congregation of Holy Cross. Nevertheless, the desire to serve as a missionary, though still vague in form, burned within me. In December 2014, I made contact with the Vocations Director of the Mill Hill Missionaries and participated in their “Come and See” programs in March and August of 2015. My parish priest, however, was not so happy, having hoped I would pursue diocesan priesthood. It was during this period of uncertainty that Divine Providence intervened most strikingly. While awaiting correspondence from Mill Hill, delayed by the slow system of postal communication, I was approached by Fr. Silverio Mwanawathumwa, then a deacon, who inquired as to my frequent visits to the parish office. Upon hearing my story, he asked if I had ever considered Holy Cross—a congregation previously unknown to me. With extraordinary enthusiasm, he connected me with Fr. Luke Muhindo, the then Vocations Director, who instructed me on the application process. Even before our physical meeting, Fr. Luke’s warmth, kindness, and promptness left a permanent impression, confirming in my heart that I had found the right congregation.
In a significant act of trust, I declined a subsequent invitation from the Mill Hill Missionaries to their three-month discernment program in Luanda, Kenya—despite having no certainty of admission to Holy Cross. This surrender to Divine Providence was rewarded on July 12, 2016, when I formally entered the Postulancy program in Jinja. Thus began my formation in the religious life, a journey encompassing human, spiritual, intellectual, pastoral, and communal dimensions. The Novitiate, entered on July 22, 2019, proved a year of profound transformation under the guidance of Frs. Tom Smith and Fulgens Katende, Br. Everest Neema, and my spiritual directress, Sr. Margaret Aliganyira, DST. On July 16, 2020, I professed my First Vows, consecrating myself to a life of chastity, poverty, and obedience. My theological and pastoral formation at McCauley Formation House in Nairobi further equipped me for ministry, while my current pastoral year in Bangladesh has granted me the grace of serving in a diverse cultural context—engaging, among others, in catechesis, visitation of the sick, and the consolation of the grieving.
Throughout this journey, I have encountered both interior and exterior trials: the struggle for faithfulness in prayer, the temptation to self-reliance, the demands of academic excellence, and the need for prudent detachment from family concerns. Yet, in each challenge, grace has flourished through the support of my formators, the fraternal solidarity of my brothers in Holy Cross, and the wisdom of spiritual guides who have guided me with patience and love.
I render to God continual thanks for the many blessings of my formation. To the Congregation of Holy Cross, I owe an innumerable gratitude for nurturing my vocation. To my formators, fellow religious, and the faithful who have accompanied me—through encouragement and fraternal correction—I offer my deepest gratitude. Above all, I thank my family, who first sowed in me the seed of faith and granted me the freedom to respond to the Lord’s call.
Last modified: April 29, 2025
