Kiryowa can still dance calypso after 50 years in marriage
CALYPSO is an energetic dance for which even the young need to brace themselves. But 73-year-old Florence Nabaggala Kiryowa pulled it off without a hassle during celebrations of their Golden Jubilee on May 11 at the Peniel Beach in Entebbe.
By Gladys Kalibbala
CALYPSO is an energetic dance for which even the young need to brace themselves. But 73-year-old Florence Nabaggala Kiryowa pulled it off without a hassle during celebrations of their Golden Jubilee on May 11 at the Peniel Beach in Entebbe.
Although she had pain in one leg and could not stand for long, much excitement led Kiryowa to the dance floor.
“That is to thank you my darling for picking me as your wife 52 years ago,†she told her 77-year-old husband, Abner Kiryowa. “I was not well-educated neither was I very beautiful. Although I am dark-skinned, Kiryowa preferred me to the other women and I have to thank him for that.â€
Mr. Kiryowa amused the guests when he said he woos his wife everyday, adding that it had kept their love burning.
He said he was committed to their marriage from the first day and prayed to God for it to succeed.
How it all started
Kiryowa was born on February 2, 1931 to the late Nekemeya Musoke Mereeggulwa and late Dorothy Nakissozi of Gguludene village in Namulonge.
His wife was born in 1935 to the late James Kaweesa of Kamuli village in Kyaddondo and Eva Nassanga.
Kiryowa says he first saw his wife at the village well when she was five years old. “I helped her put a pail of water on her head.â€
Later, the two of them lived in the same neighbourhood in Mukono when Mrs Kiryowa stayed with an aunt, while Mr Kiryowa stayed with his grandmother.
He explains that he vowed to marry only one wife after seeing his grandmother suffer when she was abandoned by her husband for another woman.
After school, Kiryowa worked at the Geological Department in Entebbe. He met his wife again at St Mark’s Church, Namate in Entebbe, where they both used to go for prayers. The two fell in love and marriage followed. The couple got married in 1956 at Namirembe Cathedral.
Kiryowa mortgaged his bicycle to a businessman in Nateete for a sh200 loan to finance the wedding. His monthly salary was sh70.
Their reception was at Mengo Junior School in Kampala and they served milk tea with buttered bread and cakes. Besweri Mulondo, the former Ssabalangira of Buganda was his bestman.
The Kiryowas were blessed with six children; four girls and two boys. The family left the Anglican Church and joined the Seventh Day Adventist Church in Entebbe.
They later settled in Katabi near the barracks where they were neighbours with George Wilson Kadaga and Eve Manjeri Kadaga. The Kadagas who came from Mbulamuti village in Busoga are the parents of the Deputy Speaker Rebecca Kadaga.
Mrs Kiryowa, who was a housewife, helped in raising the Kadaga children.
CALYPSO is an energetic dance for which even the young need to brace themselves. But 73-year-old Florence Nabaggala Kiryowa pulled it off without a hassle during celebrations of their Golden Jubilee on May 11 at the Peniel Beach in Entebbe.
Although she had pain in one leg and could not stand for long, much excitement led Kiryowa to the dance floor.
“That is to thank you my darling for picking me as your wife 52 years ago,†she told her 77-year-old husband, Abner Kiryowa. “I was not well-educated neither was I very beautiful. Although I am dark-skinned, Kiryowa preferred me to the other women and I have to thank him for that.â€
Mr. Kiryowa amused the guests when he said he woos his wife everyday, adding that it had kept their love burning.
He said he was committed to their marriage from the first day and prayed to God for it to succeed.
How it all started
Kiryowa was born on February 2, 1931 to the late Nekemeya Musoke Mereeggulwa and late Dorothy Nakissozi of Gguludene village in Namulonge.
His wife was born in 1935 to the late James Kaweesa of Kamuli village in Kyaddondo and Eva Nassanga.
Kiryowa says he first saw his wife at the village well when she was five years old. “I helped her put a pail of water on her head.â€
Later, the two of them lived in the same neighbourhood in Mukono when Mrs Kiryowa stayed with an aunt, while Mr Kiryowa stayed with his grandmother.
He explains that he vowed to marry only one wife after seeing his grandmother suffer when she was abandoned by her husband for another woman.
After school, Kiryowa worked at the Geological Department in Entebbe. He met his wife again at St Mark’s Church, Namate in Entebbe, where they both used to go for prayers. The two fell in love and marriage followed. The couple got married in 1956 at Namirembe Cathedral.
Kiryowa mortgaged his bicycle to a businessman in Nateete for a sh200 loan to finance the wedding. His monthly salary was sh70.
Their reception was at Mengo Junior School in Kampala and they served milk tea with buttered bread and cakes. Besweri Mulondo, the former Ssabalangira of Buganda was his bestman.
The Kiryowas were blessed with six children; four girls and two boys. The family left the Anglican Church and joined the Seventh Day Adventist Church in Entebbe.
They later settled in Katabi near the barracks where they were neighbours with George Wilson Kadaga and Eve Manjeri Kadaga. The Kadagas who came from Mbulamuti village in Busoga are the parents of the Deputy Speaker Rebecca Kadaga.
Mrs Kiryowa, who was a housewife, helped in raising the Kadaga children.