At Boma grounds in Mbarara city 2020

At Boma grounds in Mbarara city 2020

Missionary Report

Robert Okello. Photo by Ronald Atwiine. Mr Robert Okello (In the pic above) is 29 years old and is employed as a soldier in the Uganda Peoples Defence Forces (UPDF) at the rank of a Private. He joined the army in 2006 in Lira district and is now serving the nation at the 2nd Division barracks in Mbarara town, Mbarara district in Western Uganda. He loves the Lord and he is more touched when he listens to Christian music. “From long ago I loved Seventh Day Adventist (SDA) music since I joined senior one at Amosa SDA secondary school in Lira in 2002” Okello says. “I was later transferred to Mbarara to work from there, so one day as I was walking in Mbarara town in October 2013, I heard nice gospel music being played in one shop, I asked the shop attendant to give me the best gospel music in town” Okello says. He adds, “The shop attendant gave me good music which included among others Songa Mbele, Nitaenda and Abaana B’Israeli I came to learn later at home that this was SDA music by Akayo Singers of Mbarara SDA church as the church sign post is displayed in some of their songs”. He adds, “The songs in the video are so nice and the singers are very smart and since am a soldier, some of the Swahili songs with matching and with the message that we are matching to heaven appealed to me most and illustrated better the gospel than the word of the Bible does especially the song Nitaenda” He adds, “I decided to come to church and worship the living God because in the videos there was a church sign post and even during the army night patrols I had also located the church” Okello later came to worship for his first time in the SDA church on November 9, 2013 and had spent more than 6 years without worshiping in any Christian church. “Today (November 16, 2013) is my second Sabbath to worship at Mbarara SDA church and I will not turn back, I wish to be baptized” he said, adding, “Am very happy today that for the first time I have seen Akayo Singers live on stage singing in church”. On November 16, 2013 was Akayo Singers day to minister in Mbarara SDA church as per the church preaching program. Okello is asking everyone to pray for him so that he can do his work well and at the same time always get time to worship the Lord on his Sabbath day (Saturday). “I want to ask my commanders to always allow me to worship on Saturdays and to rest on that day” this is Okello’s humble appeal and prayer. APPEAL Pray for Robert Okello so that God can bless his wish and work and he gets more time for worship and study his word. Support all choirs in your local churches whenever they appeal to you, or even when they don’t appeal for support because gospel music permeates all spheres of society and especially to the “un entered areas” by other gospel preachers, evangelists, Literature evangelists and the Pastors. Matthew 24:14 King James Version (KJV) “And this gospel of the kingdom shall be preached in all the world for a witness unto all nations; and then shall the end come” Compiled by Felix Basiime, Public Relations Manager, Akayo Singers and also the Communication Secretary at Mbarara SDA church 2011-2014

Welcoming the ECD President at Mbarara

Akayo singers welcome the President of the East-Central Africa Division of Seventh-Day Adventist Church, Pastor Blasious Ruguri at the Headquarters of the South Western Uganda Mission in Mbarara on March 19.

Thanks giving for Namanda

Akayo Singers at Rukuuba SDA church in Isingiro district, Uganda on June 25, 2011 at a thanksgiving sabbath for their member, Ms Namanda (front with a basket).

Namanda was thanking the Lord for surviving a serious illness after she was discharged from Mbarara hospital in May 2011.

Isaiah 40:31

Akayo Singers performing at Igongo Cultural Centre at Biharwe in Mbarara district, Uganda at an SDA church organised family life day, April 30, 2011

POEM: AKAYO ROCKS MBARARA

* This is a poem by a poet/journalist who attended our December 19, show in Mbarara, Uganda. He tries to paint a picture for those who could have missed the action.

Akayo rocks Mbarara
By Ebenezer T. Bifubyeka,
Poet, Journalist and Author.


What a surprise for a group that started small as a church choir 15 years ago but now not only sings but dances and acts!

The group now excels in doing all these and in staging shows!
It is not only rare but strange; strange but true!

Ululating noise of the excited viewers attracted many to Mbarara Catholic Social Centre;
Viewers at the Akayo’s launch of its 10th audio album on Dec. 19, 2010 were shocked!
Not only shocked of the success of their group’s member’s family but of the entire group.

The excitement goes to maximum after the three-man group of young boys goes on stage,
They sing with no instrument; their voices are the beats that reverberate like a lion’s roar!

Their gospel songs are punctuated by scenes of drama, blended with modern dance styles
And intervals of both wedding and military match-like strokes!
Their creativity is heightened by the vibrant Ruharo Gospel Singers headed by Mr Muhoozi aka AKataama!

Then Akayo comes in again with two main actors splashing in their own kind of English: ‘Ndakuraavinga’ (I love you)!
‘Out-dateda’ for outdated!
It’s a humble but a lovely couple.
Christmas is a few months away; the husband buys clothes and presents for his spouse.
The wife sees all these as nothing so long as there is no gomesi and meat for Christmas!
The husband hasn’t even bought the beans from the market and plants them –
But he orders his wife to prepare ekijamba when those beans mature!
Then the husband switches on to Rukiga;

‘Ndenda oteeke ekijamba ha Christmas! (I want you to prepare bean leaves on Christmas day).’ ‘I won’t do that! Never!’ swears the irate wife.

‘Orakiteeka! (You will prepare it)’ insists the husband.
‘Tindakiteeka, walayi ekijamba tindakiteeka (I won’t; I swear I won’t)!’
The short, small but strong wife jumps and grabs the husband by the neck over ekijamba!

She clobbers the husband until he screams for help! Beads of sweats collect on his brow!
He wipes his sweat with his shirt before the neighbours intervene to save the poor man!
The defeated and ridiculed husband consoles himself that he nearly killed the ka-wife –
Had it not been the intervention of the neighbours!

Then Kacebezi changes his name to Katemere as he carries the offertory basket around!

Such was the fun on a sunny Sunday evening.

THANK YOU ALL

We thank you all who supported us during our launch of Vol 10 audio album and fund raising for a group vehicle on Sunday December 19, and more to those who physically attended the function.

We also pray for all those who pledged to honour payments before end of January next year.

Thank you all, may god bless you.

We also wish you all a merry Christmas and happy new year.

Keep checking on us through facebook and You Tube, we shall give you our Christmas gift and New year gift because you have been good friends throughout the year.

Together we can make it. Just trust the Lord ) Isaiah 40:31


AKAYO SINGERS,
A leading gospel music and drama group,
Shop No. 24, Balya Plaza bldg,
Makhan Singh Street, Mbarara town
C/O P.O.BOX 466, MBARARA, UGANDA