Mixed reaction on receiving news of twins

TWINS FESTIVAL 2019

WHEN: SUNDAY, AUGUST 25

WHERE: NAMBOOLE STADIUM

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Whereas having twins is considered a frightening task by many people, for Catherine Manake, and her husband Cranmer Amailu, it was good news.

Even though Manake got a little nervous, on finding out that she was carrying twins, she was also overjoyed by the news.

"I first froze when I was shown the scan. It was unbelievable. I never expected twins. My husband was also in the same room; we looked at each other and smiled. His smile gave me assurance that everything was going to be fine," Manake says.

The mother of four realised she was carrying her third and fourth children the day she went for a pregnancy checkup following three months of ill health and missing her menstrual periods.

"When it was confirmed, we left the hospital excited. We were not worried about any challenges of raising the twins but focused on ensuring that they come and find us ready to receive them," Manake says.

On September 22, 2011, Manake and her husband received their bundles of joy.

The twins were named Mercy Beatrice Nachuha Nakato and Salume Mwolobi Catherine Babirye, respectively.

Now aged eight, Nakato and Babirye attend Bright Future Primary School in Kibuli, Kampala. Giving birth to twins according to Manake was a blessing from God. "My neighbour had twins and I used to joke that I would love to have them. They came, and I don't know how it happened, " Manake says.

According to Amailu, the entire family joined in the celebration after they heard the news about the twins. This was the second set of twins in the family after Amailu's elder brother had twins a year earlier.

"We took the girls to church they prayed for them and we later held a special celebration as a family to celebrate this blessing," Amailu says.




Raising twins

When the twins were born, Amailu took three weeks off his job to support her wife.

‘I spent a good time with them and supported my wife. It was a blessing which I enjoyed and was always happy to see my girls growing," Amailu says.

He says the birth of twins gave him a lot of respect in the society and has since been given a title of Ssalongo.

Manake says there are a few challenges when raising twins compared to taking care of a single child. "The only difference is that you do twice the things you would be doing for one child. When you have a supportive partner, it is not difficult," she says.

"I thank God that my children have been healthy," he adds.

However, the time came when the twins joined school and had to be separated in class.

"One of them would cry until the sister was brought back. This went on for a while until they got used," Manake says.



Surprise

At nine months, the twins stopped breastfeeding which was a surprise to the parents to see the two children refusing their mother'' breast milk at the same time.

"They stopped at the same time. That was a surprise to me," Amailu says.

Despite being twins, Nakato and Babirye have different aspirations and role models, although they love the same subjects.

"I love mathematics because it is easy. I want to become a lawyer and my role model is the Speaker of Parliament Rebecca Kadaga. My favourite meal is matooke and meat," Nakato explains.

Babirye says, they share everything with her sister at school and at home. "I also love mathematics, and in future, I want to be a secretary. My mother is my role model because she treats us well," Babirye says.

The two promised to be part of the Twins Festival that will be happening on August 25, at Namboole National Stadium.


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