Mother, such an interesting person

HAPPY MOTHER’S DAY. “Motherhood is priced Of God, at price no man may dare, To lessen or misunderstand.” Poet Helen Hunt Jackson’s is but one quote about mothers, that noble being who is irreplaceable in the lives of many. As we celebrate Mother’s Day today, our readers share some amusing things about the incredible women in their lives with Caroline Nambowa.

Florence N. Nabaggala, works in a Secretarial bureau
I was 13 years old and on treatment for typhoid. Although I was on medication, there was no improvement. So at one point my mother asked me to tell if I had done anything wrong. I thought she was asking whether I had abused someone or something like that. But it was so many years later that I understood that she was asking whether I had slept with someone or aborted. I found it interesting that my mother suspected I had had sex with someone at that age.

Mariam Mukablisa, bank teller
My mother’s playful nature amused me. When we were young, when electricity went off while we were eating, she would hide our plates so we would touch the floor when we tried to continue eating in the dark. Then she would laugh at us. Also her love for me to this day amuses me. I can take money from her bag and when I let her know I have, she only says “It’s okay, I gave birth to you”. She still buys me clothes and gifts at this age even when I have a child.

Gift Tusingwire, accountant
The way my mother got me to do work around home was very interesting. I was about 12 and I did not like to do chores. Once I admired knickers at a neighbouring shop, but had no money, so I requested her to buy them for me. She made a deal with me that she would buy me the knickers on condition that I dug a portion of the garden. I dug yet she did not fulfill her end of the bargain but instead gave me another portion to dig and she still didn’t buy me what I wanted. It was not until I showed her my torn knickers that she laughed at me and finally bought me new ones.

Clare Nakangu, student
The way she laughs. She laughs her heart out and gives the impression that she has no worry in life. She also shows us old dance strokes like “banjo” and shows us how our grandmother used to dance for them too. She is a free spirit. When it comes to dancing, she doesn’t hold back. I never get bored around her.

Arthur Mukisa, builder
Mama once told me that what has kept her alive to this day is “crying out” whatever burdens her. It amused me because I always thought that for one to to cry, he or she should have been beaten.

Sam Ssekiyima, boda boda
My mother stood by me when I got sick. I was a grown man with a family, but she did not consider that I was an adult so I would deal with my problems. Instead, she took great care of me for six months even when my wife was there.

Frank Beyinene, taxi driver
What amuses me is mummy’s love for us. She went through a lot of trouble to get us what to eat and would wake up at 3am in the morning to dig for other people to get some money for the home. She would then come home at 10am to dig our garden until 1pm. After resting for a while, she would then dig someone else’s garden from 7pm to 10pm under the moonlight. She was hard working and loved children too.

Sylvia Balira, business woman
Her self-control is what amuses me most. Even if someone tries to tick her off or abuses her, she just leaves it all to God. She says “I know that God will reward them someday”. She loves making friends and not enemies. That is why she welcomes everybody to her home.
Felix Tony Lukwago, student
Although she has very little, recently lost her job and separated from her husband, mother always finds a way to help me out. I can rely on her for anything. Even when she does not have money and I need it, she somehow gets it. Also she understands me more than anyone else.

Joseph Kato, butcher
Mama once told me that during the Lakwena war, her house was burnt down and father was not with her yet she was eight months pregnant with Wasswa and I. She said she spent three days in a mango tree with neither food nor water. However on the third day she gave birth to us.

Ibin Idi Ssenkumbi, PRO Kampala Metropolitan police
My mother lives in the village but at whatever time I reach her, she prepares me a meal and hands me a plate full of food. She does not believe in breakfast, lunch or supper. Whether you are leaving at 6am, she prepares a meal of millet, sweet potatoes or any other food. If I do not finish it, she inquires if there is anything wrong or whether the food was not nice.

Sean Oseku, radio producer
She takes me like a little child but amusingly kneels down while greeting me. Whenever she kneels down, I run away until she gets back on her feet. She is a natural comedian; the only thing missing is to put her on stage because every time we meet, she makes me laugh. She gave birth to me on Mother’s day and she is the jolliest most hardworking human being after God. She is the only person I would look up to for anything.

Latif Madoi, fashion designer
She comes to my place and starts demonstrating cleanliness. She can check the cupboard and throw away all the plastic cups. She cleans the compound and the house; she is a clean person.

Moses Sekiboogo a.k.a Mowzey Radio, artiste
When we speak on phone, my mother calls me her father. She says “Tata wange” (my father). She never tells me why she calls me that, but that amuses me because I am her son.

Daniel Kigozi a.k.a Navio, Hip pop artiste
The one thing that amuses me about my mum is the fact that she knows about everything from business, to politics and then she knows more about Ugandan artistes than I do. Their cars, beef, new songs. She is too knowledgeable.