I broke up with the love of my life - Otunnu

Did you ever get married at any point?
No, but I did come very close to getting married to an exceptionally wonderful woman but sadly and regrettably, it did not happen because of some intervening developments.

Was she black or white?
She is black and also Ugandan.

Did you get heartbroken when you broke up?
It was exceedingly painful on both sides. Before you jump to a conclusion, us not getting married is no commentary on the woman because she was exceptional wonderful.

Why did you break up with her then?
It is a long difficult story which I have given you a factual half of.

Is that why you are still a bachelor?
The breakup had its own impact but I never consciously said I will never get married. It is just that it has not yet happened.

What do you think of marriage and relationships?
Marriage is a beautiful institution. It is wonderful to behold a married couple. I am not against marriage and if I was, I would not have come close to it but just for various reasons, it did not happen.

Do you ever get pressure from friends and relatives to get married?
Yes, they do put me under pressure although I think the biggest pressure over time has come from my mother, my eldest sister and some of my aunts, that is natural and I appreciate them so much.

Do you have any children?
Yes, I do have children.

Biological children?
I am not in the habit of categorising children and I disagree that children be labelled in that way. It is ugly and segregative. Children are children. If you have them, you have them.

Have you dated other women before?
I would discuss that with my closest relatives because it is in their position to probe that. Actually even my mother did not ask me that, I only used to discuss that with my elder sister.

What do you think about women and relationships?
I do not like to speak in generality because that can be deceptive. But in general, women are wonderful, they have a stronger and a more refined sensibility than men. Women are a stronger gender. Appearance not withstanding, the macho culture that is sometimes encouraged in men gives the men a false thought that they are stronger but they are just physically stronger. From my experience I know that the stronger and more intelligent gender is women. That’s why we should build a society in which being a woman or man is no disadvantage.

Does politics have any connection with marriage?
Marriage as is said, is beautiful and when got right, it is a good thing to behold but you should not compare it to politics because there is no link between the two. Politics is about caring for the people and looking out for them and offering leadership. If you look at history, there are powerful leaders who led their people yet they were not married for a long time.

Do you have any problem with your sexuality?
I know the source of that information and those people spread such information because they know Ugandans are gullible and they will consume what-so-ever is nicely packaged.
What you are asking just proves that, but for my side, it is really none of my concern and it does not bother me a tiny bit, not when I was abroad and not when I have come back here.
I know who I am and I am not concerned to explain to anybody who I am so that is your problem and not mine. I am very comfortable with who I am, I thank God for it and I have no need to explain to people, least of all, those who have been spreading this kind of information.

What is your take on bachelorhood?
Nothing.

Family background
Olara Otuunu is not the first born of his family but he says he was the first child to be born after his parents converted to Revival Christianity, known as Balokole today. His Christian name is ‘Olara’, which means ‘the Lord has given me salvation’. He says it is an authentic Christian name and his siblings who were born after him have authentic names. “The problem is people have been brainwashed with English names,” Otunnu says. His father, Yusto Otunnu was a man with modest formal education. He served in the Second World War and was among those who were enrolled by the British in Kings African Riffle. He went, and luckily came back to Uganda. When he got back, he started teaching and served as an interpreter for a revival preacher called Dr Eliya Lubulwa from Luweero. His mother was the one who took care of the family. She organised the family and was more like the headmistress of a school because they were many at home. Them, the immediate relatives’ children, other relatives and revival people who always converged at home.