From school sweethearts to lovers
What you need to know:
From childhood classmates to lifelong partners, Aloysius and Eunice’s love story is a testimony of patience, prayer, and purpose
Aloysius and Eunice are one of those couples whose love story feels like it was written by God Himself. Their journey began way back in primary school, where they studied together from Primary Three to Primary Seven. But after completing primary school, life took them in different directions, and they eventually lost touch. Years later, after university, fate stepped in again. This time, it was at Daystar LC Church in Pallisa District.
For Aloysius, seeing Eunice again was a moment of quiet certainty. “The day I saw her at church, my heart just knew, this is my wife-to-be,” he says with a smile. “But I did not tell her right away. I waited for the right moment.” That moment came in an unexpected yet meaningful way. One day, a mutual friend, also an old schoolmate, visited Eunice at her brother Charles Mutema’s home.
After catching up, Eunice offered to escort the friend to visit Aloysius too. “We shared a meal, then escorted our friend back to the village,” Aloysius recalls. “I hired a motorcycle for the trip, and Eunice joined me on the ride. On the way back, I just knew it was time. So I told her how I felt.” Eunice did not answer right away.
True to her faith, she asked for time to pray about it. “Thankfully,” Aloysius says, “God confirmed it to her in 2006.” At the time, their relationship was mostly nurtured through phone calls and text messages. “Things picked up when Warid Telecom launched in Uganda in 2008,” he adds. “We would call and text often, and meet in open places to talk and dream about the future.”
A season of growth
Their courtship lasted five years, from 2006 to 2011, and was a period of deep learning and growth. “That time helped me understand Eunice; her strengths, weaknesses and background,” Aloysius says. “It showed me how we could build a life together.” To keep things fun and meaningful, they exchanged small gifts and involved their spiritual mentors for guidance and accountability. They also went through six months of pre-marital counselling, something they both describe as invaluable.
The proposal
When it was time to propose, Aloysius kept it simple but heartfelt. “I had carried the message in my heart for so long,” he says. “So I just asked her, ‘Would you give me the chance to become a son-in-law to your family?’” Eunice asked for time to pray again, and a few days later, she came back with a yes. “That confirmation meant everything to me,” Aloysius says.
A joyful celebration
Their traditional introduction ceremony and wedding took place at the same weekend. “The introduction was on Saturday, December 17, 2011,” Aloysius recalls. “And the wedding followed the very next day.” He speaks with deep gratitude when reflecting on Eunice’s family. “They were incredibly generous,” he says. “They graciously accepted a simple token of appreciation and a few gifts. It was truly beautiful.” Eunice credits their strong support system for how smoothly everything went. “God truly made a way,” she says. “Our friends and family showed up in full force, and everything came together joyfully and beautifully.”
Lessons
Both Aloysius and Eunice agree that pre-marital counselling laid the foundation for their strong marriage. “One of the most important lessons we learnt was that love is more than just a feeling. It is how you treat each other, through kind words and actions,” the couple says. They were also taught the importance of protecting each other’s dignity. “If something needs correcting,” they say, “do it like a friend, with love and grace. Never expose each other’s weaknesses.”
Facing the unexpected
Not everything went perfectly, though. Eunice remembers a few hiccups during their introduction ceremony. “Some service providers did not deliver as expected,” she shares. “The decoration, especially, was a bit of a letdown.” But they chose not to dwell on it. “In the end,” they both say, “God made everything beautiful.”
Unforgettable moments
For Aloysius, the most unforgettable moment was seeing Eunice walk down the aisle. “It felt like a dream,” he says. “We even gave ourselves a nickname (Balongo), because we were so in sync.” The exchange of vows was deeply emotional. “It was something I had prayed for and imagined for years.” For Eunice, the most powerful moment came when they exchanged rings. “I reflected on all we had been through,” she says. “The love, the trials, the grace of God. In that moment, I truly saw God glorified.”
Words of wisdom
Aloysius says their relationship is anchored in faith and prayer. “Proverbs 31:10 says, ‘A woman of noble character, who can find?’ A faithful woman is found in church.” He also reminds couples that it is not about hosting a flashy wedding. “I once attended a church wedding where 100,000 couples were married in a single service, no reception, no extravagance. Yet those marriages are thriving. What matters is the covenant.” Eunice offers encouragement to women still waiting for love. “Serve the Lord wholeheartedly,” she says. “Give Him your all. And when the time is right, He will bring the right person into your life.”
Tit Bits
•Groom’s name: Aloysius Katula
•Bride’s Name: Eunice Mutema
•Church: Pentecostal Assemblies of God (PAG), Pallisa Town
•Celebrant: Bishop Mesulam Ekopai
•Venue: Free Way Hotel (Pallisa Gardens)
•Number of Guests: 300
•Budget: Shs11m for both the introduction and the wedding
•Theme colours: White, orange, and lemon green
