From a chance meeting at a Makerere University career fair to a carefully planned wedding, Juma Ssegujja and Mercy Jorine Nassolo chose patience, simplicity and intentionality, building a relationship that grew quietly over time into marriage without pressure or spectacle.
It began as a chance meeting that neither of them was seeking.
In March 2023, at a career fair at Makerere University, Juma Ssegujja, 28, known to many as Jomma, a banker and economist at the Bank of Uganda, shared insights with students about what awaited them after graduation.
Among the crowd was Mercy Jorine Nassolo, 25, a final-year student in Agribusiness Management, who had only intended to stop by briefly. She had travelled from Kakiri in Wakiso District that day, balancing errands and ambition, unsure if she would even stay.
However, she lingered long enough for a conversation that would quietly change the course of her life.
‘I was asked to speak at the fair about what lay ahead for students after graduation,’ Juma recalls.
After his talk, Mercy approached him for guidance and requested his contact information.
‘I had no intentions towards her at the time, but I helped her through the application process,’ Juma says.
What followed was nothing dramatic, just a series of messages, consistency, and silence that gradually filled up with familiarity. Mercy smiles as she remembers, ‘Jomma was consistent in texting, and he still is to this day.’
A love that started simply
By June, something had shifted. Juma began to see in Mercy the qualities he admired; she was disciplined, intelligent, and grounded. He described her as ‘my tribemate,’ noting that their age difference was just right.
Mercy, in turn, recognised Juma as intentional, thoughtful, and steady.
‘He was visionary, intelligent, and solution-oriented,’ she says. There was no rush and no grand declarations, just the slow unfolding of two lives getting to know each other. Their first date reflected everything they would later become.
Juma chose Forest Park in Buloba for their outing. They met at Old Kampala Taxi Park and travelled together by taxi, side by side, like any ordinary couple beginning something they did not yet fully understand.
‘It was simple but memorable,’ Mercy reflects. ‘Despite our financial situation at the time, I felt comfortable because I knew we would build together.’ Under the shade of trees, over shared meals and easy laughter, something unspoken took root.
Distance, growth
Their love did not flourish in comfort; it grew through distance, time, and patience.
After graduation, Mercy moved upcountry for a farm management job. The miles between them tested what had begun so gently.
Juma worried about her career path and encouraged her to return to Kampala’s job market. Eventually, she did, securing a role with ABSA Bank.
Despite the distance, they remained close through long phone calls, prayer, and conversations that stretched into the late hours of the night. Later, when Juma acquired a car, it felt less like a possession and more like a bridge connecting their hearts, preventing them from drifting apart.
Turning point
Three years into their relationship, life began to weigh heavily upon them. Friends were getting married, expectations grew louder, and time felt burdensome. During the 2025 Hallelujah Challenge, Mercy prayed for direction and clarity about the future of her love story. In March 2026, she received an answer she did not expect.
Juma invited her to KK Beach to meet his father. She arrived unaware that everything had already been set in motion.
At the beach, she found both families waiting.
‘I was still processing everything when they told me that our kukyala would be in March and the introduction in May,’ she recalls. Her heart was racing, but her story was already moving into its next chapter.
Kukyala and introduction
On March 7, Juma and his family arrived at Mercy’s aunt’s home in Vvumba for the kukyala ceremony. Despite the short notice, she approached the preparations with calm determination, using savings from their joint account and working within a modest budget. It was not about extravagance; it was about meaning.
Weeks later, on May 16, the introduction ceremony took place at her father’s home in Matugga. Juma’s family aimed for simplicity, with few meetings, clear planning, and fulfilled commitments. His parents were deeply involved, providing support and ensuring every detail was taken care of. In contrast, Mercy’s family infused the day with warmth and celebration, even hiring artistes such as Haruna Mubiru and Jovan Luzinda. For Juma, it was a moment of admiration.
‘Everything was very well organised,’ he remarks.
When it came to their wedding, the couple opted for something uncommon: they prioritised calm over spectacle. After visiting several venues, they chose Fairway Hotel, not for its grandeur, but for the ease, control, and peace of mind it offered. Their guest list remained intimate, with around 60 people. Invitations were sent digitally, not out of convenience, but by intention. Juma encapsulated their approach by saying, ‘Information is an asset only if you have the finances.’ This was their way of ensuring love would not become a performance.
On June 21, they exchanged vows at the Wakiso District Headquarters with only a few witnesses present. There were no crowds or noise, just two people choosing each other. Later, they took photos at Rock Stone Gardens and enjoyed a small lunch together.
That evening, they received a blessing at Antioch Church before preparing for a private reception the following day.
At the reception, close friends served as MCs. The entrance was simple, the speeches heartfelt, and the atmosphere calm, almost sacred. What left a lasting impression on them was not the decor or the schedule, but the absence of pressure. ‘We were stress-free because everything had been planned early,’ Mercy says. In that calm, their love felt complete in a way that noise never could.
What love means to them now
To Juma and Mercy, love is no longer a question; it is a practice. It is commitment. Trust. Patience. Communication. Intentionality.
In their quiet life together, they read, pray, attend marriage cell meetings, watch football, listen to podcasts, and simply enjoy being at home.
They advise couples to talk openly, save together, seek counselling, and prepare early. Looking ahead, they dream of a honeymoon they have not yet taken, children they hope to raise, land they plan to buy, and a home they will one day build together.
The beauty of choosing simplicity
In a world that often measures love in noise, expense and spectacle, Juma and Mercy chose something softer. They chose consistency over chaos. Planning over pressure. Meaning over display.
And somewhere between a career fare and a quiet taxi ride, their story became what many hope for, but few build: A love that did not rush but arrived fully formed in its own time.