Our work schedules do keep us apart

Gloria Valentine Nakato

How would you describe Paula?
Something I love to hate, the fact that she never says no, even when someone is just tricking her. Paula is loving, caring and outgoing. In most cases, she expects me to be on the same bandwagon with her but she does not realise that my interests are changing.

What is your earliest memory of her?
In nursery, Paula used to pee in her clothes. On many occasions, she was the mastermind of most of the crazy things we did.

What nickname did you have for her?
I do not have any nickname but being the only two girls out of six siblings, I call her child of my father. However, our nephews and nieces call her Aunt Chocolate because she is good at spoiling them with chocolate.

What is she most scared of?
My death. She says she would have lost not only a sister but also a friend who understands her best.

What is the craziest thing she did as a child?
Most of the time, we were together and did all the crazy things together though most of the time they were her ideas. Chewing small pieces of white paper we would put them in the corner of our eyes and pretend to have been sleeping. Did you ever team up to fight someone?
No but she was always punished for my mistakes. I do not remember us teaming up to fight someone, but as adults I have on many occasions fought on her behalf.

How often do you meet these days?
Everyday, unless one of us has travelled but we keep in touch. In the morning, we leave home together and in the evening, she picks me up from work. She knows my schedule, that is how much she is into my life.
What is her favourite outfit?
Paula is a tomboy. She loves jeans, T-shirts and sneakers.

What is the craziest thing you did together?
While at university, we went to hang out. By the time we returned home, it was late and the gate had been locked. I helped her climb the gate but while climbing, its sharp edge pierced her fingers.
Does Paula ever keep any secrets from you?
A lot, but the fact that I know her password, when she is in bathroom I go through her phone and just land on stuff I realise she did not tell me about.

Has anyone mistaken you for her?
Yes, growing up, our mother could not distinguish our voices. Whenever she called me to help her with something I would keep quiet. When she called Babirye I would answer immediately pretending to be the one. Babirye would fight over it but she would still go to our mother.

Geraldine Paula Babirye

How would you describe Valentine?
Valentine is a perfectionist. This ranges from her job to her cooking skills. Most people think she is humble because she is quiet. She does not pretend, she either likes you or not. She is strict and never settles for less. She loves herself and considers herself before anyone.

What is your earliest memory of her?
While in pre-primary, our mother would pick us up from school at midday. After having lunch we would take a siesta, something we did not comply with. One day, while escaping through the kitchen window to go and play with our neighbours, she hit her head on a glass and sustained a cut. When mummy returned, she punished our elder brother and I instead of the culprits. I remember her saying each time this girl sheds tears I will beat you.
Valentine took advantage of this. Every time I refused to help her with anything, she waited for our mother to return, she cried saying that the wound was painful.

What nickname did you have for her?
I did not have a nickname for her when we were young. Though the family members call her Naks yet our nephews call her aunt Kabogoza because she scolds them, especially if they do not act right.

What is she scared of the most?
Imperfection. Whenever she does something, say taking a reading in church, she expects you to comment on how she read and the same happens when she cooks or dresses up. Valentine thinks when you say she is good, that is not enough. She expects words such as perfect, excellent and amazing.

What is the craziest thing she did as a child?
When mother took us to the village for holidays with our grandmother, instead of sleeping we escaped through the window to a garden of sugarcane. When I was trying to cut sugarcane for her, I cut her finger. When grandmother asked us what had happened, she said she had been cut by a piece of firewood. I call it crazy because for the first time she told a lie on my behalf.

Did you ever team up to fight someone?
As a child she was a coward and I would never bank on her for anything. However, today she fights for and defends me.

What is the craziest thing you did together?
We did a lot of crazy things together but the most recent one was in 2017 while in France. We kept jumping on to several trains without swapping our credit cards but each time I told Valentine we would get caught she kept insisting. One day, luck was not on our side but somehow we managed to go through.

How often do you meet these days?
We do not just meet but stay together. While I was in Japan, she felt the need of us putting funds together and build a house for ourselves. We stay in the same house and share the bedroom as well. Not because the house is small but that is how she wants it.

What is her favourite outfit?
She loves jumpsuits, jungle boots and leather jackets. She loves wearing jumpsuits to Church every Sunday. She also likes short dresses.

Does she ever keep any secrets from you?
No, she is an open book. She tells me everything, even when she is annoyed she will still tell me. And when she is dating someone, she keeps me posted about everything good.

Has anyone mistaken you for her?
Yes, especially during our school days. Speaking Luganda was taboo, whenever Valentine spoke Luganda they instead wrote my name. I would wear a bone or sack on her behalf and no one listened to my explanations because teachers knew I was the stubborn one.

What nickname did you have for her?
As children I did not have a nickname for her. Though the family members call her Naks yet our nephews call her aunt Kabogoza because she scolds them, especially if they do not
act right.