My first love

Have you experienced love at first sight? If so, how did you feel? This is the question Asmara Nabayaza set out to answer when she interviewed different people at random

- Bebe Cool, local artiste
“At first I thought Zuena was one of those beautiful women you just admire and leave it at that. But again, the feelings were extra.
She was the cutest I had ever met. I hadn’t met such a woman before. I didn't think she would accept me as Moses. But she did and really, she wanted to be with me more than I had anticipated.
I knew she was the one the moment I looked in her eyes. They were twinkling with fire and in a way communicating to me. When that time finally came and I asked the big question, she said yes, to which I didn’t hesitate for a minute. I had only sh2m. I just went and got us two beautiful engagement rings. And so, we got hitched.”

- Bobi Wine
“I felt indifferent. You know it made me feel tight. I hated looking at her. Yet the more I saw her, the more admirable and loving I found her. It’s something indescribable, but somehow inside my heart, I just knew that she was the one. God bless us through this journey. It's not a simple one. He has already blessed us with a beautiful baby. And we intend to carry on our thing forever.”

- Maggie Kigozi, Uganda Investment Authority
“I felt happy, on top of the world and complete.
When I got him perfect, I just knew he was the one. He was also equally in love with me and very able in everything. He was a very good sportsman, which I admired and loved a lot. We eventually became friends.”

Annette Nandujja , a dancer with The Planets
“The feeling I get when I have composed a thrilling song is the same feeling I felt the first time I fell in love. I felt like something was running through my head. Whenever, I thought of him, I would develop goose bumps all over my body. I didn't even want my friends to touch him.”

- Christen Mawadri, radio presenter
“I didn’t know that it was happening. I'm a cynical of sorts. So I couldn't believe what I had gotten myself into. That's why I laughed all the time. Actually, I got a feeling of living another life. It is the most unusual thing to happen to anyone. I was so confused, a feeling bordering on anxiety and living the edge run through my body. You never know that he's the one. I am not the kind that would say, woo! This is got to be it. I have heard that love at first sight is usually disappointing. So for me, it’s never love at first sight. I’m a bit old fashioned. I don’t go out and say it.”

- Roger Mugisha, former radio presenter
“I have never fallen in love before. So I have not felt such feelings.”

- Oulanya Columbus, capital fm presenter
“I felt like I had hit a jackpot. In my language, a saying goes, ‘Your wife's sweetness can only be felt by the husband only.’ It’s always about your instincts. When you meet the right person, it tells you to go for that person. So when I met her, I just knew that she’s the one.”

- Ronnie Sempagi, Capital FM presenter
“When I met Shakira, I just prayed straight away to God that one day she gives me a child. So when I got to know her, I felt like I had accomplished one of my dreams. I have not yet confirmed. We have two children, however, I still need to be sure when crossing that line. The first few months or years go well when you’ve met. Five years down the line, things tend to change. If the change is good, it calls for marriage. But if otherwise, then that doesn’t happen. So, I'm sill waiting.”

- Peter Sematimba, Super fm proprietor

“I don’t remember the exact feelings. But remember falling in love all the time. Different people gave me different love feelings altogether and collectively created the concept of love feelings, which I came to experience. So, I don’t have that special first time love feelings.We knew each other for 16 years before reaching the big decision. I met Julie in America. However, after sometime, I come back to Uganda. While here, I dated different girls who came with different experiences. So when I compared Julie with the rest, I realised that she was a great person. Others were not loyal and honest. That’s the core reason I chose Julie as my wife.”

- Mrs Ruth Matoya, a counsellor with MUK and Ndejje University
“I felt like I was up in the clouds. I wanted to see him all the time. I had this anxiety whenever we would meet. My heart never stopped pacing. I wanted all my friends to meet him. The plans I hadn’t called for started flowing in me like, wishing my parents to meet him. It was a difficult decision. I went down on my knees and prayed about it. He had unique qualities. For example, we blended a lot in our family backgrounds. We related well with each other. He was a religious person. My friends also appreciated him.”

- Joanita Kawalya, singer Afrigo Band
“I felt carried away and got a sense of panic. However, after a while, I realised that he was a helpful and caring man. It's not always about getting rich first then; give a helping hand to others. It only comes as a gift from God. He was dependable and reliable. Someone who fulfils what he says, and so religious. Of course it wasn’t automatic to realise that he was meant for me. It was after some time that I realised he had the qualities I was looking for. When a man is loving, caring and religious, those are key factors in initiating a serious relationship.One thing led to another till the time he proposed marriage. We have now spent 10 years in holy matrimonial.”

- Paddy Bitama, Amarula Family
“I felt it wasn’t me. I felt like a man for the first time. I couldn’t believe it because I felt I had become grown up. I asked myself why that was happening to me. It’s a happy feeling which is somehow indescribable. But with love things, you need to be sure to make a big comment in papers.”

- Reverend Dr. John Ssenyonyi, Mukono University
“I wanted to hear her talk, look at her and be with her all the time. I desired to spend the rest of my life with her and a sense of, ‘I don’t have to look any further, this is it’, run through my head. The more I prayed about her, the more I felt God was leading me in that direction. Lastly, I sought counsel from other people especially those who knew her best.”

- Gaetano Kaggwa, Capital FM presenter
“I felt confused. My emotions were all over the place. My feelings crisscrossed. I went through some pain. I thought she would shut me out. But in the end, every thing worked out so well. However, right now, I’m not seeing anyone in particular.”

- Harry Sagara, New Vision columnist
“I failed to think beyond her. I got hysterical that the doctors summoned her. When she came, I got my senses back. Suddenly, I was alive and kicking. However, we just stayed good friends. Last year, she got married to some other guy. But I have moved on. I am on a search of my next love victim. I have so much love that, if it were taxable, I would be the biggest taxpayer than BAT, SHELL and The New Vision combined. Since I have a seventh sense, the day I meet my future wife, I will just know.”
Ends