We love moulding young people - twin nuns

What inspired you to become nuns?

Louise: Some sisters used to come to our parish in Rubanda, Kabale District. They sang well and looked good. I admired them and when I asked my father if I could be a nun, he agreed.
Magdalene: Our mother’s words also helped because she told us there were people who gave their lives to serving God. Father had no objection when we informed him. After our Primary Six, we applied. Although we were admitted to Butare convent, we were sent back to Junior School and secondary school for two more years. After that, we returned to the convent and trained for three years. We became nuns in 1963.

Is there an event that set you on this path of ministry?

Magdalene: When the Sisters visited our parish, they came to our home because our father was a catechist. They shared their experiences with our family for about an hour. When they left, they had planted the seeds of ministry in our lives.

Was is that easy for your parents to agree to your vocation?

Louise: Father had the final say, so we went together to see him. He asked if we were ready to be separated because as nuns, we could be sent to different parishes. We were silent. He sent us to our mother for her decision. She was happy. We also discussed our decision with our elder sister. We asked if she wanted to join us. She did not want to live the life of nuns; she wanted to become a teacher.

Magdalene: When we gave our father the list of requirements, he said they were too many and he could not afford to shop for two people. We asked him to request the parish priest for help. Our parents gave us a lot of emotional support. In the 1950s, educating a girl was rare in our home village, but my father took all his children to school.

How was life in the convent in the first months?

Louise: There are rules and regulations, and timetables which had to be followed. We did not have these at home. The rules in boarding school were different from the ones in the convent. However, the older Sisters were good to us. Being twins, we wanted to do everything together. We were always whispering to each other. Sometimes we broke the rules of silence but gradually, we learnt to cope.

Magdalene: Our formatters were good to us. We were given religious instructions, being made aware that we could still make a choice to become nuns or to return to the world. Finally, we made a commitment to stay and serve God.

Have you ever regretted your decision to become a nun?

Louise: No. This is where God wanted me to be. I am in a position to help others through counselling. One time, Magdalene fell sick and I thought I was about to lose her. She almost died but I never thought that I would be alone in my service to God after her death.

Magdalene: It’s now 52 years but the religious life still remains attractive to me. I am single-minded in my service. A married person never has a lot of time for God because of the cares of his or her family. Besides, I am a spiritual mother to many children. We taught in Mary Hill High School for 15 years and got satisfaction from seeing young people progress in life.

What do you enjoy most about your ministry?
Louise: I loved teaching young people in different schools. We also help young people to be evangelisers in youth centres in Uganda and Tanzania. We help them to understand how they can live a better life through behavioural change.

Magdalene: I have found that you can mould young people like you can do with a pot. You shape it and make it usable. That is what we have done. Those who have been changed can become role models for their fellow youth and give them their testimonies. Some do not change immediately, but I believe that the words we tell them can influence them later in life.

What do you think Ugandans will reap from the Pope’s visit?

Louise: I was delighted when I heard about his visit. He is for the poor and he is interested in the youth. Wherever he goes, he imparts something important. I hope I have the opportunity to see him. I was in Kampala in 1969 when Pope Paul VI visited, and I saw how people were excited. I listened on radio to the Mass when Pope John Paul II came. A Pope’s visit is a very exciting experience.

Magdalene: I am also excited and I know that he will have a message for Ugandans that can help us to progress to the next level. I hope he talks about unity and reconciliation.

Who are the twins?

Childhood: Born on July 22, 1942, to Amato Kahemura and Ritah Babikinamu in a family of 11 siblings, the twins studied at Rushoroza Boarding School and Mushanga Junior School.
Higher education: They studied at Butare convent for three years then joined Mt St Mary’s College Namagunga for their O and A level education. In 1972, they graduated with a Bachelor of Education in Science subjects from Makerere University.
Worklife:They have taught in Mary Hill High School where Magdalene was head teacher from 1980 to 1990 while Louise was the school bursar. In 2001, they registered an NGO, Youth Support Group. They also serve at Nyamitanga Cathedral in Mbarara.