Celebrating 50 years of bonding

Sep 19, 2006

Fifty years in marriage is a long time for some people but for us, it has been years spent bonding with each other,” Anselmo Mweya and Maria Namukasa reflect.

By Paul Kiwuuwa
Fifty years in marriage is a long time for some people but for us, it has been years spent bonding with each other,” Anselmo Mweya and Maria Namukasa reflect.
For them, their marriage tale started in holy matrimony on September 1, 1956 at Lubaga Cathedral, officiated by Bishop Joseph Kabana.
Mweya was 27 and Namukasa was 17 years old. “The knot that started as a joke has born us everlasting fruits,” says the couple. “Many couples who wedded with us have died or separated and have not had a chance to celebrate 50 years as we have done,” Mweya says.
In Mweya’s own words, “I dated Namukasa in 1955. At 17, she was a beauty like a blossoming flower. Some girls expressed interest and proposed marriage to me, but I let them down for Namukasa.”
For Namukasa, “There were three men chasing after me, but I chose Mweya because he was more serious. On our first date, he commanded respect, confidence and passion for what he loved.
“My dream husband then was one who was responsible. My research on him revealed that he had a permanent house with a stable job. He became a suitable person for a husband for me.”
“Our wedding was memorable occasion. We served 300 guests with milk tea, bread smeared with butter and cakes,” Namukasa recalls. “My wedding suit cost sh30. I don’t recall the cost of Namukasa’s wedding gown but it was expensive. Our currency was strong then,” Mweya chips in.
“Namukasa and I have never experienced any serious sickness, neither have we had any devastating accident. We thank God for lending us safe lives.”
The couple was blessed with three sons and seven daughters. but lost four of them.
Mweya attended primary at Lubaga Boys Primary School and St Mary’s College Kisubi for junior secondary. He later joined Kampala Technical School for carpentry and joinery. Namukasa went to Naddangira primary, and Trinity College Nabbingo.
Mweya’s profession for the last 50 years has been carpentry. He says that through trustworthiness and diligence, he was able to earn a livelihood.
Mweya explains that though he wasn’t earning a lot of money, he paid his children’s fees and catered for his family.
“I don’t regret being a carpenter. I built a home, bought a Hillman Morris car and a motor cycle,” he recalls, adding he reared pigs and rabbits to supplement his income.
“I worked at Makerere University, department of General Science from 1956 to 1978. I joined the White Fathers Catholic Mission Mitala Maria parish, in 1980 serving as a carpenter.
Mweya made a pilgrimage in 1975 to the Basilica in Rome Italy and shook hands Pope John Paul II.
“In 1998, I joined Mugwanya Preparatory School Kabojja to date, as a senior carpenter,” he adds.
The 76-year-old Mweya is a grandfather with graying hair, and baldhead. Mweya still has sharp memory of his past.
Namukasa at 69, is round, light skinned, elegant, and and soft-spoken.
When the couple celebrated their golden jubilee on September 2, 2006, they had all reason to smile. They appeared young and energetic.
They hosted their guests to a reception at Makerere University Main hall. Namukasa explains that putting God first, not entertaining rumours and listening to each other, makes marriages last. “You should learn to forgive each other. We have never had a quarrel before our children. We disagreed on certain matters but we solved them in our bedroom,” Mweya says.
The Mweyas have a home at Kyengera, Masaka road. Namukasa is a member of the Young Women’s Christian Association Kyengera branch.
The family has a carpentry workshop, poultry farm and a banana plantation.
Ends

(adsbygoogle = window.adsbygoogle || []).push({});