I will never forget that valentine’s day ...
Feb 10, 2005
VALENTINE’S day evokes bad and good memories
VALENTINE’S day evokes bad and good memories. It could have been a disappointment, a surprise, a lifetime trip to a dream destination, or a flopped date. Whatever it was, there is that Valentine day which for good or bad reasons lingers in your memory the way a nagging cough lingers in your chest. Different people shared their good Valentine’s Day memories with Stephen Ssenkaaba.
Halima Namakula, musician
The best for me was in 1994 in USA where I was living with my family. I came back from work on that February 14 evening to a surprise dinner by my children.
There couldn’t have been a better moment in my life. It was a lovely evening. The house was all decorated and the dinner table beaming with flowers.
It was a good feeling to know that
my children appreciated everything that I have done for them and that they were proud of me. It was special also because, a few days after the February 14, my son Hemdee graduated. Valentine Day doesn’t necessarily mean spending time with your spouse. That is the Ugandan way and it is wrong.
Valentine Day is about women sharing moments with special women in their lives, such as their mothers, sisters, and friends or families. The same applies to men.
Belinda Namutebi, Public
relations officer, Moringa Ogilvy
One of the best Valentine’s Days for me was February 14, 2002
I, together with a friend of mine, who is very far away right now, spent the whole night at Hotel Diplomat watching the glamourous Kampala Night scenery. I had just bumped into this friend and when we realised that neither of us had a valentine’s date, we tried to look for something to do and yeah, we ended up at Hotel diplomat. He offered to hang out with me that night, I wouldn’t have made this discovery. This was just a friend and we were NOT dating.
This place provides one of the best views of Kampala. The atmosphere here makes all the difference.
By 7.30 pm the sun goes down and the moon takes shape. The noise goes down and the lights start to flicker. In the distance we could hear the faint voices of a crazy taxi driver or a noisy driver in the Muyenga neighbourhood.
Far below, was the Nakivubo Channel, which appeared as a belt of darkness stretching across the city.
Our eyes could stretch as far East and West. It was exciting trying to identify prominent buildings and sceneries.
By 11pm,the place was quiet and all we could hear was the sound of our voices.
By 1:00am, the lights started to fade and the mosquitoes to bite.
Memorable day it was, and I have since taken time to enjoy the Kampala night scenery.
Klaus Horderbaum, former German Ambassador
to Uganda
I don’t appreciate the whole Valentine’s Day hype very much. But I can tell you that there have been good Valentines Day experiences for me. One particular one was in 2001. My mother-in-law was here and we were expecting the birth of our child. So on that day, my mother-in-law, my wife and I went out for dinner at La chateau restaurant on Ggaba Road. It was a lovely moment. It was special because it more or less marked the birth of one of our children. Five days later, Paul Gregory was born.
Wilfred Bangirana,
aka Bangi, DJ
There is a time British American Tobacco (BAT) threw a beautiful valentine’s Day Dinner. I think it was at Speke Resort Munyonyo. I can’t remember which year it was.
All I remember is that we had a fabulous time. There was wine at every table, beautiful flowers everywhere, the aroma and the atmosphere around was irresistible. It was out of this world.
What made this occasion so special is that it had all the nice things that fit a true valentine day atmosphere. The kind two lovers would enjoy.
Edgar Watson,
retired footballer
Valentine Day has always found me out of the country, very far away from my family and loved ones. So I have never settled down to enjoy it in full. Of all these elusive moments though was one very special one. I was away in Rwanda on an international assignment with Sports Club Villa.
Then came a phone call. It was from Phiona my wife. She said: Edgar, despite not being around each other, I love you...I was touched. She certainly made my valentine day. She had always complained of my absence but this time, I promise to be around, to enjoy Valentine’s Day with her.
Halima Namakula, musician
The best for me was in 1994 in USA where I was living with my family. I came back from work on that February 14 evening to a surprise dinner by my children.
There couldn’t have been a better moment in my life. It was a lovely evening. The house was all decorated and the dinner table beaming with flowers.
It was a good feeling to know that
my children appreciated everything that I have done for them and that they were proud of me. It was special also because, a few days after the February 14, my son Hemdee graduated. Valentine Day doesn’t necessarily mean spending time with your spouse. That is the Ugandan way and it is wrong.
Valentine Day is about women sharing moments with special women in their lives, such as their mothers, sisters, and friends or families. The same applies to men.
Belinda Namutebi, Public
relations officer, Moringa Ogilvy
One of the best Valentine’s Days for me was February 14, 2002
I, together with a friend of mine, who is very far away right now, spent the whole night at Hotel Diplomat watching the glamourous Kampala Night scenery. I had just bumped into this friend and when we realised that neither of us had a valentine’s date, we tried to look for something to do and yeah, we ended up at Hotel diplomat. He offered to hang out with me that night, I wouldn’t have made this discovery. This was just a friend and we were NOT dating.
This place provides one of the best views of Kampala. The atmosphere here makes all the difference.
By 7.30 pm the sun goes down and the moon takes shape. The noise goes down and the lights start to flicker. In the distance we could hear the faint voices of a crazy taxi driver or a noisy driver in the Muyenga neighbourhood.
Far below, was the Nakivubo Channel, which appeared as a belt of darkness stretching across the city.
Our eyes could stretch as far East and West. It was exciting trying to identify prominent buildings and sceneries.
By 11pm,the place was quiet and all we could hear was the sound of our voices.
By 1:00am, the lights started to fade and the mosquitoes to bite.
Memorable day it was, and I have since taken time to enjoy the Kampala night scenery.
Klaus Horderbaum, former German Ambassador
to Uganda
I don’t appreciate the whole Valentine’s Day hype very much. But I can tell you that there have been good Valentines Day experiences for me. One particular one was in 2001. My mother-in-law was here and we were expecting the birth of our child. So on that day, my mother-in-law, my wife and I went out for dinner at La chateau restaurant on Ggaba Road. It was a lovely moment. It was special because it more or less marked the birth of one of our children. Five days later, Paul Gregory was born.
Wilfred Bangirana,
aka Bangi, DJ
There is a time British American Tobacco (BAT) threw a beautiful valentine’s Day Dinner. I think it was at Speke Resort Munyonyo. I can’t remember which year it was.
All I remember is that we had a fabulous time. There was wine at every table, beautiful flowers everywhere, the aroma and the atmosphere around was irresistible. It was out of this world.
What made this occasion so special is that it had all the nice things that fit a true valentine day atmosphere. The kind two lovers would enjoy.
Edgar Watson,
retired footballer
Valentine Day has always found me out of the country, very far away from my family and loved ones. So I have never settled down to enjoy it in full. Of all these elusive moments though was one very special one. I was away in Rwanda on an international assignment with Sports Club Villa.
Then came a phone call. It was from Phiona my wife. She said: Edgar, despite not being around each other, I love you...I was touched. She certainly made my valentine day. She had always complained of my absence but this time, I promise to be around, to enjoy Valentine’s Day with her.