Redeemed by Love: An Untold Wedding Story

On July 27, 2025, a church in Kampala gathered in celebration as Allen “Tomu” Komugisha and Tom Dawa Ojiga were officially introduced as a married couple. For those who knew their story, the moment was more than a wedding — it was a testimony of faith, healing, and the power of the Untold community.

Their journey began at their shared church, where Allen had taken residence while serving as an evangelist, choir member, and caretaker for young children.

“The church offers residency for women with nowhere to stay, so I used this opportunity to stay there while serving the church,” she said. “At the time, I had lost all hope. I wasn’t working, my children were away from me, and I still faced a lot of self-stigma, even after living with HIV/AIDS all these years.”

Separated from her children due to financial hardship, Allen leaned into service and faith as a way to rebuild her life and sense of self.

Dawa’s journey to Allen first took shape when he relocated from Kenya to Uganda. His job as a field manager offered him financial security, but an unexpected layoff during the COVID-19 pandemic and a HIV-diagnosis uprooted his newfound foundation. Dawa used alcohol as a band aid to mask his discontentment.

In 2022, Dawa began molding himself to be Allen’s match, even before they officially met. After joining the Untold program, he turned over a new leaf, overcoming his addiction and forging a new path grounded in spiritual hope.

Their lives finally intersected through Allen’s work caring for children at the church. When Dawa brought his infant daughter there because he had nowhere else to turn, Allen was asked to look after her. Over time, that shared responsibility grew into friendship and eventually love. Allen confided in Dawa about her HIV status, and he encouraged her to join the Untold program.

“When I asked if he was okay with my status, he insisted I join [Untold]. Later, the spiritual counsellor, revealed to me — with his consent — that he was HIV positive, too, which was a pleasant surprise,” she says.

Despite limited family support on their wedding day, the couple was surrounded by their church and Untold community, with Untold contributing 160,000 UGX towards their union. For Dawa, it was a reminder that family can be formed outside of blood bonds.

“After all I have been through, no one in my family called. So, I invited the Untold counselors, Enid and Lot, as my family during the wedding and introduction ceremonies. I felt like I was living the story of Jacob, working for seven years, because in the end, I got my prize: Allen,” he shares.

Today, Allen and Dawa are building the future they once deemed impossible. Allen visits her children regularly, reconnecting bonds that financial hardship had strained. Dawa has found steady work as a barber, and together they're dreaming bigger — a hair salon of their own, built on skills they learned through Untold. For the first time in years, stability isn't just a hope.

“I have had a life filled with ups and downs, so now I treasure these calm moments,” Dawa says.