Emily and Ronald Jjuuko met through mutual friends during an outing at Bubble O’Leary’s Bar in Kampala and had an instant connection. PHOTO/COURTESY
The idea of love at first sight made sense for Emily Jjuuko because when she first met Ronald Jjuuko, there was a spark; an unspoken sense that they were going to share more than just good conversation as they got to know each other. The two met through mutual friends during an outing at Bubbles O’Leary’s Bar in Kampala and hit it off right away. They sat at the same table, talked, and got to know each other the whole night. Emily was leaving the next day for a visit to the United States, but she thought about him the whole time and could not wait to get back to Uganda and cross paths with him again.
From friendship to love
They met in 2013. Her former boss, who was a friend of Ronald’s, graciously introduced them. Today, the two are a couple; she is a stay-at-home mother, while he works as a ramp agent at an airport. She says she admired and loved how social he was and how good he was with people, adding, “Everyone loved him, and he was easy to talk to. I loved how much he respected, loved and cared for his mother and family. And he was so much fun, always ready for an adventure.”
Ronald says Emily was easy to fall in love with because of her honesty, her fun personality, and the fact that she was a good listener. He also liked that she did not judge him. At first, however, she was scared to commit to a serious relationship.
The long-distance test
“I knew it would be hard, me being from the US and him from Uganda. I knew committing to him was committing to Uganda long-term, and that was scary. But after several months of hanging out, me pushing him away and then trying to get him to talk to me again, we realised that we liked each other and wanted to give it a go for real,” she narrates. He had had his share of experiences with past relationships, but when she left the country to return to the US, they kept in touch and talked every day for seven months.
During that time, he got to know her more deeply and eventually became convinced she was the woman he would commit to love and cherish. With the constant communication, love found a home in both Emily and Ronald’s hearts. She adds, “I did not need any convincing. I loved who he was from the very beginning. He is hardworking, honest, loyal and kind.”
The joys of travelling together
And he did not need to do anything dramatic to profess his love. “We both liked each other, even if we had some challenges figuring out how the relationship would work,” he gleefully shares. The two carry beautiful memories from their dating experiences. They had so much fun travelling together, especially on tourism safaris, relaxing weekends at Chobe Safari Lodge in Murchison Falls National Park, playing pool, and dancing. “It was incredible. We had so much fun together, travelling to different countries and also all over Uganda. The more time we spent together, the more we got to know each other,” Ronald affirms.
A ring, a proposal, a promise
There was no turning back. They began talking about taking their relationship to the next level by getting engaged. “I was sneaky and knew that my parents had sent him the family ring that I had always wanted to be my engagement ring. We were on holiday in the Seychelles when he proposed. It was perfect. I tried to be surprised, but I knew he had the ring. I was so excited,” she recollects. Planning the proposal is a long story. “We had planned a Christmas holiday to Seychelles, and I had told her mother that I wanted to propose. So, she sent me a two-generation-old wedding ring, and my plan was ready. I proposed to her on New Year’s Eve at midnight, on a beach in Seychelles,” he narrates.
Building a life together
The lovers set out on their matrimonial journey as partners in it together, putting God first and respecting family values and culture. What is the biggest challenge you have faced as lovers? I ask. Emily responds, “We have had difficulties with the differences in our cultures and the way we were raised, the way we communicate or respond to things. It is not easy for one of us to sacrifice so much. I lived in Uganda for about eight years; we got engaged and married in Uganda, we had our oldest son in Uganda, and most of my family missed out on a lot of that.” “Now we live in the US, and Ronnie has had to start over. He is in school and works so hard for our family. He gets homesick, missing family and friends, but also just the daily rhythm in Uganda, the food, the culture.”
What keeps them going?
He admits it is at times difficult because of their different personalities and cultures, but they keep talking about everything. Over time, the lovebirds have learnt that they both have to work on themselves and communicate with each other. Finances are one of the things they openly talk about. They have a monthly budget, so they both know where everything goes. Any big purchases are always discussed together.
Challenges. Now we live in the US, and Ronnie has had to start over. He is in school and works so hard for our family. He gets homesick, missing family and friends, but also just the daily rhythm in Uganda, the food, the culture.’’
Advice
For couples planning to tie the knot or thinking about commitment, Emily advises: always put God first. And do not forget to have fun together. Plus, learn and put effort into communicating well. “It is important to always know and appreciate that your partner needs to feel loved and cared for,” she says. He agrees, adding, “A lot has to do with being able to communicate better. Communication is the key.” The couple has big plans, including building memories with their children, and travelling more, especially bringing the children to Uganda. They also hope to build a home in Uganda so they always have a place to come back to.
