“I hesitated at first, but one Friday, I said to myself: why not? When I entered the service, the energy and adoration overwhelmed me,” Anecho recalls.

Although he fell in love with ministry, he didn’t think anything else could capture his heart.

Months passed without returning until a friend mentioned that the scholarship had moved near the parents’ school in Kampala.

“I knew I had to go back. The new place was bigger, more beautiful and full of people. The atmosphere and worship was unlike anything I had ever experienced,” he explains.

Amidst the excitement, Kabariisa appeared, coordinating the service that day. Anecho noticed her as soon as she took the stage.

“There was something about his presence, his graceful walk, his flowing hair and his soft voice. I wasn’t even listening to what she was saying; I was captivated by the way she carried herself,” he recalls.

Even though he did not pay attention to the sermon, Kabariisa’s name remained etched in his mind. Motivated by both a sense of community and a desire to see it, Anecho began attending every Friday.

“Every time she went on stage, she was beautiful, radiant and composed. It was less about the service and more about the hope of seeing her. My friends and I were talking about the service afterward, but all I could think about was her. I wish fellowship took place every day, not just on Fridays,” he shares.

Anecho became a regular at the ministry and quickly assumed a leadership role, which brought him closer to Kabariisa.

“She was always an important figure to me, someone I deeply respected. Now we were sitting together in a meeting. The first few times we spoke, his laughter melted all my nerves; it was, and still is, the most beautiful sound,” shares Anecho.

To Kabariisa, Anecho was just another minister of the church. They worked together on several projects, both at church and at work, where they headed different departments.

“For me, our relationship was purely professional and ministry-oriented. Even though we spent time together, nothing romantic crossed my mind. Even when we started going out to eat I didn’t think about it, dining with male friends wasn’t unusual for me,” she says.

By 2017, Anecho and Kabariisa had become friends, spending more time together and sharing their life experiences.

“The turning point for me happened in 2019. At that time, my previous relationship was over and I was single. When Kabariisa went on a mission to Tanzania, I realized I was in love with her. But fear held me back; what if confessing my feelings ruined our friendship? The idea of ​​losing their friendship terrified Anecho.

He struggled with his feelings for a long time before finally deciding to act.

He arranged a date at his favorite restaurant and here he confessed that he had fallen in love with her. At first, Kabariisa took it as a joke and continued to treat him as just a friend.

However, when he persisted, she told him he needed to meet with his father figure to discuss his intentions.

“To my great surprise, he accepted. We didn’t discuss it for a while and life continued as usual. Then in March 2020, on my birthday, he brought up his feelings again,” shares Kabariisa.

The confinement gave him time to think and pray. “I began to see him differently, admiring his coherence and clarity,” she recalls.

Kabariisa says he realized then that Anecho embodied the qualities she looked for in a husband and father. Her transparency and character convinced her that it was she who had resisted. After careful consideration, she contacted him during confinement to express her feelings. Six months later, in October 2020, they got married.

Four years after their marriage, rooted in shared values ​​of faith and ministry, they plan to build a perfect partnership.

Anecho believes that a successful marriage is not free from challenges, but depends on how they overcome these challenges with wisdom and maturity.

“We focus on each other’s strengths rather than weaknesses, enriching our lives together and creating a bond that withstands ups and downs,” he adds.

Kabariisa says one of the challenges in their marriage is external pressure; especially the high expectations from his parents, friends, and even society that make him feel like things have to be a certain way.

This pressure can be overwhelming at times, especially when it feels like others have opinions about how their marriage should go.

However, she is grateful that her husband can support her through these trials.

“He constantly reminds me that our marriage is between the two of us alone, not anyone else. His calming presence reassures me that we are building a life together, independent of outside influences,” she says.

Anecho believes that effective communication is essential to resolving conflicts in marriage. He understands that even silence conveys a message, which is why he makes a conscious effort to communicate thoughtfully and respectfully with Kabariisa.

Lovebirds have gotten into the habit of avoiding immediate reactions during heated moments. When conflicts arise, they choose to step back and delay discussions until they have had time to calm down.

Anecho explains that waiting to return to an issue allows them to think about it and approach it with a calmer, clearer perspective. This strategy helped them avoid saying things they might regret later.

“Asserting dominance to prove something is not a sign of strength. True strength lies in a man’s ability to be humble, mature and wise in the face of disagreements,” he emphasizes.

Rachael Kabariisa highlights the importance of embracing and enjoying life, whether you are single or married. She encourages couples to focus on the positive aspects of their relationships, recognizing that no relationship is perfect.

She also urges individuals, especially women, to enjoy being single without feeling pressured by concerns such as their biological clock. She believes that the right partner will come at the right time, so patience, prayer and clarity on what you want are essential. She warns against superficial desires, such as focusing only on appearance or wealth, because they can lead to unsatisfying relationships.

Anecho suggests being intentional in how you approach your partner and your responsibilities. It highlights the importance of meeting your expectations rather than projecting them onto your partner.