Our Story
The beginnings
We are Lucy Peace Nantume & Ronald Kazibwe. This year, 2024, we celebrate 14 years since the “I do”, 18 years since “Will you be my girlfriend?” and 21 years since we first set eyes on each other.
Rony’s version
Lucy and I met in the “ideal” environment, in a church setting. I honestly cannot recall the first time I saw her, neither can she. We just remember that we met in the Catholic community of Makerere University, the St. Augustine community.
At one time we were both leaders in the community, Lucy as the incharge of liturgy and I as the general secretary. We both had joined the university in the September 2003 enrollment, Lucy pursuing the Bachelor of Laws (a 4-year course) while I pursued the Bachelor of Social work and Social Administration (a 3-year course).
Our dating started after our third year...
“Happy birthday Lucy! Do u know what happens to special people like u on a day like this? They grow old like everyone else.” (19th May, 2006)
I can’t recall how I remembered her special day. It must have been the powers above. she replied my text, shocked that I had remembered her birthday. The texts continued till a proposal to meet for a cup of tea upon her return. She was in Dar es salaam for a leadership training.
Our first date was at the then Steers restaurant on Kampala road. One of the things that struck me was Lucy contributing to the bill. My mother had told me that if a girl was serious with you she would not let you pick the bills alone. When she did, I realized this one was for keeps.
Lucy’s version
About 3months since our first date, Rony asked me to be his girlfriend. Although all signs showed that we are “an item”, I liked the fact that he did not assume.
“Lucy, you are the girl. I have the basic attributes you want; you have the basic attributes I want. I really love spending time with you. You understand me, you make me laugh, smile, am just always looking forward to seeing or hearing from you. So, what do you say? (26th September, 2006)...
Although I already had the answer, I kept him waiting a little. When he asked me the following day what I thought about his message, my answer was that “counsel is still addressing her mind to it!” I must say that I was over the moon with joy. I was just doing delaying tactics.
I finally gave him the answer on 2nd October when we met in person. A very happy yes!
Thus officially begun our dating journey. I was 21, he was 25 years old.
Almost 4 years later, we decided to officiate our love. I introduced him to my parents on 23rd January 2010 and we got wedded on 1st May, at St. Augustine chapel Makerere University, where our love story begun. We have been blessed abundantly including the gift of parenting three daughters and one son.
Our Inspiration
Many young couples are excited about their wedding day. Why not? It is a transition and comes with anticipation of what will be and the unimaginable possibilities of what the two can achieve.
It is one of the closest steps to the fulfilment of long held childhood dreams of castles and wonderlands.
Few couples, young and old alike, take off time to think about the institution of marriage beyond the wedding day. Many couples reason; “we shall cross the bridge when we get to it”.
They never pose to wonder. Will it be wooden or steel? Is it a foot bridge or is it as wide as a dual carriage? Shall we need a pass or it’s a “free for all” passage?
Many never prepare for the changing seasons that come with life. The roaring winds, the heat of the scorching sun, the silent nights, the thunder storms and rains.
When we started dating, we envisioned a lifetime successful relationship but knew that we had to work for it.
We sought knowledge, advice and experiences from several married couples. It was not an easy search because positive married life is rarely profiled. Most information is about challenges in marriage.
We intentionally sought out couples and also did a lot of learning from literature, seminars and other marriage positive spaces, both before and during our marriage. Putting in practice what we learnt, we found that contrary to the many negative stories, our marriage was an enjoyable experience.
Four years into our marriage we dared to share the bliss we were experiencing, starting with our friends. We wanted others to appreciate that marriage is beautiful. We took our thought into prayer and God was faithful.
In 2014, with support from good-willed people, we organized the first couples’ retreat. Over the years, we have seen a steady growth in the numbers of participants and many testimonies of the impact of the retreats to marriages.
The retreats have generated conversations around family finances, intimacy, parenting, balancing work and family among other topics. Couples and individuals also started reaching out to us for individual support, and we get invited to speak at events about marriage.
In February, 2022, we felt convicted to do more. We needed a name and after soul searching “REGINA FAMILIAE” shortened to ReFa, was born. Regina Familiae is Latin translated to Queen of the family, one of the titles given to Mary the mother of Jesus. It is based on the catholic plea and conviction that mother Mary is always interceding for families.
In 2024, after 10 years in the ministry, we dared to dream bigger once again. We re-evaluated our vision and mission and this gave birth to “THE COUPLE BINDERS”.
We streamlined our target from a family to a couple. We re-evaluated our deliverables and re-adjusted our content package. While we continue to keep ReFa and our intercession through the Queen of the Family, at the core of our vision is a couple in the family.
About this blog
Welcome to The Couple Binders, your one-stop space for building a happy and fulfilling relationship!
+256 702 569 757
thecouplebinders@thecouplebinders.com
Location: Kira Municipality
Wakiso District,
Uganda.