By Nicolas Akasula
Pamela Kangwagye’s journey of faith began at 12, when she first felt a deep curiosity and love for God. Living near a church, she often visited to sweep and speak with the priests, eagerly asking questions about Holy Communion and the meaning behind sacred words. Born into a Catholic family of five girls, her relatives remember her singing hymns like Jesus Loves You and Yes He Can. Yet, despite her passion for faith, she later found herself derailed.
Start of troubled path
Growing up, Kangwagye’s need to belong led her to fall in with various groups, where she adopted a pattern of going “full throttle” in everything she did. When her family pointed out her growing reliance on alcohol, she initially dismissed their concerns.
“Everyone tried talking to me repeatedly and even sending me to rehab, but nothing changed. I thought having a child would shift my focus, but it didn’t help,” she says.
The lure of alcohol
Kangwagye’s first encounter with alcohol came during her time in secondary school, where her peers sent someone to buy waragi, sparking a habit that lasted over 20 years. The inclusion she felt within her drinking circle gave her a false sense of belonging. “I even made vows to drink forever, unaware that these words would later become strongholds tying me to this addiction,” she reflects. Over time, alcohol became her “substitute for God,” filling an emotional void.
Despite her enjoyment, Kangwagye sensed she was on the wrong path. She often argued defensively whenever anyone criticised her drinking. Her days became filled with drinking sprees, leading to multiple expulsions from school.
Increasing downward spiral
By the time she reached university, her drinking intensified, causing her to drop out of Makerere University and later Kyambogo University. With no routine or support, she spent three years at home before moving to South Africa to babysit a cousin’s newborn. While there, she completed a fine art course, but the pull of alcohol persisted. Upon her return to Uganda, a friend invited her to a nightclub, drawing her back into her old habits.
“I met a man who was interested in me, but I didn’t feel the same. I kept meeting him drunk to avoid genuine connection. He’d often say, ‘Why don’t you meet me clear-minded?’” she recalls. Eventually, she met the father of her child, who had overcome a similar battle with alcohol. He pointed out that her struggle was spiritual, encouraging her to seek a higher solution.
Encounter with Christ
Although she initially stopped drinking during her pregnancy, the addiction returned two years later. Frustrated, her partner sent her to rehabilitation, but she soon relapsed. She became involved with harder drugs, surrounded by friends who only deepened her struggle. Ultimately, she and her partner parted ways, and her young son was taken in by his father.
It was then that Kankwagye’s former counsellor from the rehabilitation centre tracked her down, going to her family’s home to ask her mother where she was.
“She wanted to take me to a discipleship school in Kerala, India, to show me how close I’d come to losing my life,” Kangwagye shares. She agreed, spending two and a half years in Kerala without alcohol. There, she met mentors who guided her to a profound encounter with Christ.
Finding redemption, purpose
Kangwagye’s life took a new turn as she embraced her faith, choosing to immerse herself in God’s teachings. She started volunteering at hospitals, listening to people’s stories, and associating with positive, faith-driven friends.
“I became a new person. Instead of bars, I visited hospitals, encouraged others, and grew in faith,” she says. Inspired by John 15, she learned to “abide in God and let Him abide in her,” discovering purpose beyond addiction.
She accepted Christ in 2018, receiving the baptism of the Holy Spirit. Now, she works as a recovery coach and assistant programmes coordinator at Rev Laban Tibekinga Discipleship Centre in Kirinya, Bweyogerere. Since joining Intercessors of Uganda in 2022, she has found further healing and freedom from her past. “By God’s grace, I’ve regained control of my life and now lead a path that impacts others,” she says.
New life of service
Today, Pamela lives a life of faith, sobriety, and purpose. She also volunteers at Butabika Hospital, encouraging patients. As a silent advocate against substance abuse, she connects people struggling with addiction to recovery resources.
Her journey from addiction to a life rooted in Christ stands as evidence to God’s transformative power. Through her faith and service, she is helping others find freedom, showing that redemption is within reach for everyone willing to embrace it.
