By Staff Writer
For those who know him, it is almost impossible to imagine Rev. Samuel Muwonge at a loss for words.
The energetic and fast-speaking Parish Priest of Kitende Parish is known for his quick wit, passionate preaching, and ability to keep a conversation flowing. Yet on the evening of Friday, June 19, 2026, the man who always seemed to have something to say found himself speechless.
The occasion was a surprise birthday celebration meticulously planned by his wife, Olivia Muwonge—affectionately known as "Lady O"—who orchestrated one of the most memorable evenings in the priest's life.
Earlier that day, Rev. Muwonge had been fully immersed in the ongoing Kitende Parish Door-to-Door Mission Outreach. Like the rest of the missioners, he had spent hours reaching out to communities with the Gospel, returning home at about 5:00 p.m. to rest briefly and charge his phone.
What he did not know was that his wife was quietly coordinating a surprise gathering behind the scenes.
Determined to keep the secret intact, Lady O casually inquired about his evening schedule. She wanted to know exactly when he would leave home and, more importantly, when he would return. To Rev. Muwonge, the questions seemed ordinary. To Lady O, every answer was crucial to the success of her mission.
She learned that he planned to attend fellowship at Namirembe Cathedral before heading to a meeting later in the evening. But there was one challenge: the birthday boy seemed in no hurry to leave.
Each passing minute made the organizers increasingly anxious.
"I am still waiting for my phone battery to charge," he told her, unaware that a team of family and friends stood ready to transform the vicarage into a celebration venue the moment he drove away.
Relief finally came when he received a phone call from someone requesting a meeting in Namirembe at 6:30 p.m. Remembering that he also needed to deliver food supplies to workers at his farm, Rev. Muwonge decided it was time to leave.
Lady O seized the moment.
"When are you coming back?" she asked, trying to conceal her excitement.
"After 8:00 p.m.," he replied.
The answer triggered a flurry of activity.
As soon as his vehicle disappeared down the road, the vicarage became a hive of coordinated action. Decorations were quickly put in place. Tables were elegantly covered in golden linen. Chairs were dressed in black. Golden flower arrangements adorned the tables, while birthday candles added warmth and charm to the setting.
At the centre of the pastoral gardens stood a special round table bearing the evening's masterpiece—a birthday cake decorated in the colours of Rev. Muwonge's beloved football club, Arsenal.
Written carefully on the cake were words that captured the many roles he plays in the lives of those around him:
"A Companion, A Provider, A Blessing, An Awesome Father, and Above All, A Great Husband."
By 6:45 p.m., the transformation was complete.
Meanwhile, Omulangira Ndawula was busy making him busy as he had told him that he had wanted to meet him at Church but all this was one way of not letting him spoil the suprise.
Family members and friends quietly streamed into the compound, each carrying the excitement of sharing in a secret that the guest of honour knew nothing about.
Then came the moment everyone had been waiting for. At exactly 8:28 p.m., Rev. Muwonge's vehicle pulled into the compound. He hooted as usual and waited for the gate to be opened.
As he drove in, thunderous applause erupted.
"Surprise!"
The voices of family and friends echoed through the night air.
For nearly five minutes, Rev. Muwonge remained seated in his vehicle, visibly stunned. He looked from side to side, trying to make sense of what he was seeing. His expression shifted between disbelief, joy and amazement.
The priest had finally met a surprise powerful enough to silence him.
Slowly, he drove to the parking area where Lady O rushed forward and embraced him with what many later described as "the mother of all hugs."
Meanwhile, guests danced and sang along to Pallaso's popular Happy Birthday tune as the birthday celebrant attempted to process what had just happened.
The surprises kept coming. Among the guests was his mother, whom he was convinced had travelled to Namusera for a Friday overnight prayer gathering. Then he spotted his father-in-law, Rev. Canon Henry Segawa, the Namirembe Diocesan Secretary.
Next were Lay Canon John Fred Kazibwe and his wife Dr. Ann—people he had actually planned to meet later that evening.
He continued spotting familiar faces: Dr. Sebulime and his wife, Mr. Jombwe and his wife, Owek. Ssekabembe and his wife, Eng. Kalibbala, and many other close friends.
At that moment, Rev. Muwonge seemed to realize that nearly everyone he trusted had conspired against him for a good cause.
For perhaps the first time in his life, the preacher had been completely outsmarted.
The evening proceeded with a sumptuous dinner, laughter, and heartfelt conversations.
Speaking during the celebration, Lady O thanked the guests for responding to her invitation on short notice.
She explained that she wanted to honour her husband in a special way after watching him dedicate an entire week to the demanding work of the parish mission outreach.
"He deserved a surprise," she said. "He has spent the whole week serving others."
When Rev. Muwonge finally took the microphone, his remarks drew laughter from the gathering.
"For the first time, I have become speechless," he admitted.
Still trying to understand how the secret had been kept so effectively, he joked about the people who had successfully hidden the plan from him.
"Usually my father-in-law, Canon Segawa, tells me when he is coming. But today, mumpangudde! Even Maama—I thought she was in Namusera for an overnight," he said, prompting laughter from the audience.
He thanked everyone for sacrificing their time, resources, and energy to celebrate with him.
Turning to his wife, he expressed deep gratitude.
"Can you imagine? In the morning she only told me a simple 'Happy Birthday,' not knowing she was preparing something this great," he said.
Then, with a smile that suggested the story was not yet over, he added: "I will revenge on her birthday."
The celebration reached its climax with the cutting of the Arsenal-themed cake, presentation of gifts, and more joyful moments shared among family and friends.
Long after the candles were blown out and the music faded, one memory remained clear in the minds of those present: the sight of a man known for speaking with confidence and conviction standing silently, overwhelmed by love.
On a day dedicated to celebrating his life, Rev. Samuel Muwonge discovered that some surprises are so beautiful that words simply are not enough.
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