Grenade, Didi give their lives to God at Bugembe’s Church

______________

They are within his circle of influence, and he has used that to turn them to God. In the last two weeks, Producer Didi and Grenade Official have turned their lives to Jesus Christ (referred to as getting saved) at Pastor Wilson Bugembe’s Worship House Church in Nansana, Wakiso.

In a testimony at the church, Didi (real name Abdul Karim Muchwa) promised never to return to the life of promiscuity, alcohol, and smoking. He also said that he had been stigmatized since declaring his HVI+ status.

"I tested HIV positive when I went to the hospital to treat a serious illness. The doctors requested that I take the treatment properly and keep my status a secret to avoid stigma. However, I felt dishonest not letting people know about my status. I believed that if I opened up and told the public, it could help others and save lives by learning from my experience. I requested Emma Carlos, who took me to the hospital, to let me disclose my status. He supported my decision, and I decided to open up, regardless of whether people would laugh at me or not. I aimed to save other innocent lives, and I did.

I will continue to show the younger generation every step of my life to educate them until God decides my fate. I also decided to seek God and repent for all the wrongdoings because I am sure I have affected many innocent souls by keeping quiet about my status.

I called Pastor Wilson Bugembe and asked for a chance to announce my salvation message and repent before the congregation. He allowed me to do so. I decided to give my life to Jesus and create music that praises His goodness. My heart is tired, and I feel overwhelmed; only God can save me now. I have been sick for over seven years and have suffered through a difficult life during this period. I realized that I need God and will never engage in bad behaviors such as smoking, drinking alcohol, and sleeping with many women, thereby spreading the HIV virus.

Bugembe requested that people to treat Didi as a hero who has joined the ranks of other Ugandan heroes in the fight against HIV, such as MC Kats and Philly Bongole Lutaya, who publicly announced their status.  

In a related incident, Grenade Official (Deus Ndugwa) also got “saved” at Bugembe’s church during a service last Sunday. The Nkuloga singer committed his life to God and he said he too had given up on promiscuity, drunkenness and use of illicit drugs.

"I wish I had known God earlier. If I had, I would be one of the richest artistes in Uganda because I wasted a lot of money on useless things. I am now born again and saved. I will never fight and never play with women. I have stopped drinking and taking drugs. I will find one woman out of many and make her the love of my life and love her alone. I will be attending church services every Sunday and abide by the church rules and obey God’s Ten Commandments,” Grenade said.

In a later interview, Grenade revealed that after realizing that he had been in-and-out of police cells many times since 2023. “Many of the cases stemmed from love and breakups with women,” he said.

He says that only God can help him get over such problems. “The devil wanted to jail me and end my career,” he added. He says that his testimony in church was not rehearsed. According to him, he had only gone to the church to repent his sins, but Pastor Bugembe called him to the altar.

He asked all his girlfriends for forgiveness. They include Maggie Kiwesi Nalongo (the only one he mentioned).