Yamamoto lights up Binaisa

Dec 03, 2004

FORMER President Godfrey Binaisa, 84, cannot hide his joy. The cause? His new Japanese wife, Tomoko Yamamoto, 54, a pharmacist living in Columbus, Ohio.

By Ronald Kabuubi

FORMER President Godfrey Binaisa, 84, cannot hide his joy. The cause? His new Japanese wife, Tomoko Yamamoto, 54, a pharmacist living in Columbus, Ohio.

The lovebirds, who flew in from USA aboard a British Airways flight, are here to formalise their marriage, due December 16, at Speke Resort Munyonyo.

But Binaisa is not waiting for the 16th to make merry. Soon after they arrived at Entebbe Airport on Wednesday morning, he swept the lovely Tomoko to his Muyenga home where he hosted a handful of guests to a welcome bash.

The notable guests were Dr Andrew Kasirye, the former president of the Uganda Law Society, Boney M. Katatumba, the Honourary Consul of Pakistan, and Kampala Mayor John Ssebaana Kizito. The lovers kept together throughout the evening.

They held hands and smiled affectionately whenever their eyes locked. In an earlier interview at his residence, Binaisa said: “We shall have good connections between our communities. I hope she will be a useful addition to our community.”

Katatumba commended Binaisa, his guide and teacher, for being an admirable figure to many Ugandans. He said Binaisa has helped shape his life.

Ssebaana complimented his choice of bride. “One thing I know about Japanese is that they are polite people. I trust Tomoko will make a polite wife who will be submissive to her husband.”

Binaisa lost his wife, Irene Majorie, in January last year. He was, perhaps, a lonely man. After officially marrying Tomoko in an international mass wedding in Seoul, South Korea in August, Binaisa now radiates with a smile.

President Yoweri Museveni and other foreign presidents are expected to grace the marriage ceremony.

The welcome party started at 8:00pm and ended late in the night.

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