Emmanuel Fortune Kabuuka is a gospel artiste in Uganda. He is the voice behind songs that include Ngandinawe, which upon release, received a lot of attention on top of being played massively by different radio stations in the country .
‘Ngandinawe’, (a luganda word to mean when I am with you) is a gospel song which describes what can happen when one is with God.
He took off time to share his testimony with UG Christian News. This is one of those testimonies that gets you on heels of ministry.
He will have a mega music concert in the city Sub-county come the 22nd of May, 2016 at Divine River Church located at Nabweru, 4pm. Entrance will be 5k/10k.
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The Genesis
It was in 2007 that I got to find out that I had a serious heart defect, which I thought was one hole in the septum between the heart’s chambers.
At that moment, I was leaving with my aunt. I was constantly sick to the point that I couldn’t clean my own laundry. For this reason, my aunt returned me back to my mother.
This condition bothered her, observing my invariable weight loss each passing day. She at this took me to Mulago Referral Hospital, where they did a thorough checkup and confirmed that I had not one but two holes in my heart. The specialists said that this was a congenital heart defect, a problem with the heart’s structure that could have been present at birth. These defects change the normal flow of blood through the heart.
They told my mother that my situation was beyond what they could handle and that it would require transition to India for a surgical operation. The doctors told me that I would need two artificial valves placed in my heart each costing $9000.
We were asked for a lot of money amounting to $20,000, all expenses inclusive. My mother could not withdraw her tears hearing this. Amidst several insecurities that included inadequate finances, she had also separated with my father who wasn’t supportive in any way.
Amid all this, I told her, “Mum, God is here”. I wasn’t so deep into Christ, but I knew what I had been told about God. Having stayed with my aunt previously, she taught us, teaching us how to pray. I knew that every good thing proceeds from the lord.
Reality at hand.
We got back home after receiving the Doctor’s report. Through her close friend, we were led to an organization where she was working; it is still in existence. It is called Action for Disadvantaged People.
Here, I meat Mr George Ntambi. This gentleman helped me so much.
Through them, we began a campaign for financial support. We visited several media stations both TV and Radio. It was uphill struggle I must say. They at the same time introduced me to another organization called Gift of Life International. It is an active organization till this day.
They now work from Mulago bringing doctors from abroad to attend to patients. We prayed, this I must emphasize. My mother went into fasting. She actually lost a lot of weight too at that time. She looked for money from every Conner of Uganda. At that same time, 2008, I was meant to sit my P7 examinations.
God’s Hand Manifest
I hardly went for classes but thank God when the final exams approached, I went in and was triumphant when results returned. Right now, I have just completed my S.6 exams. Gift of Life International through a gentleman called Rob Rewumans sponsored me from S.1 to S.6.
About Rob, he is surprisingly not born again but, he has always supported me. When I have a music show, he will show up. It is not easy for someone to hold out two million each term for you to go to school. This is the favor of God. It is God that works in the hearts of Men so as to arise to your call for assistance. All my life has been about God.
Chain Of Hope, Harris International, Heart Institute of Mulago and many more organizations came to my rescue.
India at View.
Before heading to India, our Clan head has sold off our burial site. So in a hurry, he said, where are we going to burry Bukenya’s son [referring to my father] because he is going to die… do you see how the enemy can arrange your burial beforehand. Reaching India, welcomed by doctors at the airport, a number of people came to witness and observe my condition, the ambassador of India – New Deli, the ambassador of India to Uganda was also around.
The doctors were not confident of this surgery. They had not done anything like this before. The cases they often had were of patients with one hole but I had two.
I had written a small note to God telling him that if He had surely brought me to this place, that meant restoration to health. God doesn’t take you places with no intentions. My mother wasn’t told that the doctors are skeptical about the surgery success. Back at home, all that my other relatives were worried about were the expenses of returning home a corpse.
Heaven on Earth
When I went into the operation theater, I was worked upon, spent about 36 hours in comma and opening my eyes was about 3pm in the evening. God did it for me. It was a successful surgery.
Today there are tablets that the doctors recommended that I take every day. They are expensive but, I have to take them daily. I thank God for the provision.
There are days when I am in prayer and fasting for three or more days but I never get any complications. When I was taken to India, a lot of people thought and said that that I could never get well or live up to many years or, do anything productive in life. I am not 22 years, alive and well.
I do gospel music today; I want my music to reach out to the entire cloud of witnesses that saw me before. I promised God not to use my voice for nothing else but to sing Him praises. All need to know that I am well, living a good life. They need to understand that God has dealt me with me mercifully. God provided, he sustained me and still does! I cannot fail to thank my mother, of all my relatives; she was the only family I had.
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