‘I didn’t think Juliana could make a living from singing’
MAY is the month when the world celebrates mothers. Hope Mafaranga talked to Juliana Kanyomozi’s mother to find out the joys and challenges of bringing up a beautiful girl that grew up to become a celebrity
MAY is the month when the world celebrates mothers. Hope Mafaranga talked to Juliana Kanyomozi’s mother to find out the joys and challenges of bringing up a beautiful girl that grew up to become a celebrity
QUESTION: What are your memories ofJuliana’s birth day?
ANSWER: I spent two days in labour and when the baby finally came, she was a girl—the baby I had for long prayed to God to give me. I had told my husband that if I gave birth to a baby girl, I would name her Juliana.
However, the biggest memory on that day is when her father, Prince Phillip Manyindo, came to see us in Nsambya hospital. He looked at the baby and asked: “Is this Juliana? She is too dark.†His comment scared me because he was a brown man. I thought he doubted the paternity of the baby.
What happened?
But later her dad loved her very much and named her "Omuhumakati". He would often cuddle her a lot and carry her to nursery school. I kept on telling her that she would grow to be a very beautiful and hardworking girl.
Was it an easy or difficult labour?
It was a prolonged and induced labour. The baby came after I had been put on drip for several hours.
What kind of baby was she?
She was a dark, calm good looking baby. Whenever someone annoyed her, she ran to me sweating and crying. She never fought with her siblings or the children in the neighbourhood.
When she was in primary two, she started singing; she could pick empty tins of Kimbo and use them as a micro phone.
We had an anthill in our compound which she used to climb and improvise as her stage. She was also to close to Bella, who is also an artist today.
How do you remember her in pregnancy, childhood, teenage?
I missed elections during Obote II presidential elections because I was too heavy with Juliana's pregnancy. After her primary seven, she went to Kololo High School. At high school, the boys were mesmerised by her looks. Each time they saw her, they would break into a chorus: “There comes a beautyâ€, and soon they would surrounded her. But she would take none of that. One day she shouted : “Give me my space!†From that day, everybody started fearing her because they knew she was a serious person.
The moment you were most proud of Juliana?
I was happy when Juliana got an award of the artistes of the year. She made me so proud. I felt like the whole world had known her. I knelt down and thanked God her achievement.
What was the most notorious thing she ever did?
There is something that she did but I will not say it. It will not make her happy.
Did you ever imagine she would achieve what she has achieved?
I never expected her to reach where she is now because we had a humble beginning. I tried so much to stop her from singing because I thought someone could not make a good living from the singing career. But her father always supported her. He believed she had the talent. I was left with no choice but to let her sing. Now, looking back, I have no regrets.
Is she what you dreamed she would be?
I wanted her to be a lawyer, who could urge cases in court because she spoke good English. She was a very intelligence girl.
What kind of mother are you?
My children are all my friends. I am their counsel and they confide in me.
What did you do to contribute to her achievement?
I taught her and all my children honesty, hardwork and good morals. I told them to be cooperative with other people, and to treat people with respect, regardless of their status.
What were your mothering principles?
I used good and positive examples. I told my children about the people who have succeeded in life. I told them such people had become successful because they always listened to their parents’ advice, and above all feared God.
What was a day like in your homestead with Juliana as a child?
Juliana was very active and respectful girl .
What were the challenges of raising her up?
After their father's death, it was hard to bring up Juliana and her siblings. As a single mother, resources were not enough but I tried.
I had a friend called Joan who was a wife of Dalton Turyagyenda, a former permanent secretary in the ministry of internal affairs. We shared a lot because she was also a widow. She gave me courage to stand strong and raise up my kids. Luckily my children remained good — always respectful — even after their father’s death.
How close are you to her?
We are too close, Juliana likes staying around me. We go to the salon together. In fact, when I go alone, she feels bad.
As a mother what is your wish for your children?
I wish all my children to get stable marriages because I can be sure they are safe.
FACT FILE
Name: Catherine Byabusa Manyindo,
Place of birth: Buhizi, Nyantungo in Kyenjojo district.
Parents: Late Shem and Easter Kabayaga Byabusa
Education: Nyantungo Primary School, Madox SS in Kyenjojo and College of Business Studies in Kampala where she studied secretarial studies in 1972.
Marriage: May, I, 1975 to Prince Gerald Phillip Manyindo (RIP)
Number of children: Five
How she met Juliana's father: I was staying with my uncle in Kamwokya, and Prince Gerald used to come to visit my uncle. We became friends in 1973. After two years we married.
QUESTION: What are your memories ofJuliana’s birth day?
ANSWER: I spent two days in labour and when the baby finally came, she was a girl—the baby I had for long prayed to God to give me. I had told my husband that if I gave birth to a baby girl, I would name her Juliana.
However, the biggest memory on that day is when her father, Prince Phillip Manyindo, came to see us in Nsambya hospital. He looked at the baby and asked: “Is this Juliana? She is too dark.†His comment scared me because he was a brown man. I thought he doubted the paternity of the baby.
What happened?
But later her dad loved her very much and named her "Omuhumakati". He would often cuddle her a lot and carry her to nursery school. I kept on telling her that she would grow to be a very beautiful and hardworking girl.
Was it an easy or difficult labour?
It was a prolonged and induced labour. The baby came after I had been put on drip for several hours.
What kind of baby was she?
She was a dark, calm good looking baby. Whenever someone annoyed her, she ran to me sweating and crying. She never fought with her siblings or the children in the neighbourhood.
When she was in primary two, she started singing; she could pick empty tins of Kimbo and use them as a micro phone.
We had an anthill in our compound which she used to climb and improvise as her stage. She was also to close to Bella, who is also an artist today.
How do you remember her in pregnancy, childhood, teenage?
I missed elections during Obote II presidential elections because I was too heavy with Juliana's pregnancy. After her primary seven, she went to Kololo High School. At high school, the boys were mesmerised by her looks. Each time they saw her, they would break into a chorus: “There comes a beautyâ€, and soon they would surrounded her. But she would take none of that. One day she shouted : “Give me my space!†From that day, everybody started fearing her because they knew she was a serious person.
The moment you were most proud of Juliana?
I was happy when Juliana got an award of the artistes of the year. She made me so proud. I felt like the whole world had known her. I knelt down and thanked God her achievement.
What was the most notorious thing she ever did?
There is something that she did but I will not say it. It will not make her happy.
Did you ever imagine she would achieve what she has achieved?
I never expected her to reach where she is now because we had a humble beginning. I tried so much to stop her from singing because I thought someone could not make a good living from the singing career. But her father always supported her. He believed she had the talent. I was left with no choice but to let her sing. Now, looking back, I have no regrets.
Is she what you dreamed she would be?
I wanted her to be a lawyer, who could urge cases in court because she spoke good English. She was a very intelligence girl.
What kind of mother are you?
My children are all my friends. I am their counsel and they confide in me.
What did you do to contribute to her achievement?
I taught her and all my children honesty, hardwork and good morals. I told them to be cooperative with other people, and to treat people with respect, regardless of their status.
What were your mothering principles?
I used good and positive examples. I told my children about the people who have succeeded in life. I told them such people had become successful because they always listened to their parents’ advice, and above all feared God.
What was a day like in your homestead with Juliana as a child?
Juliana was very active and respectful girl .
What were the challenges of raising her up?
After their father's death, it was hard to bring up Juliana and her siblings. As a single mother, resources were not enough but I tried.
I had a friend called Joan who was a wife of Dalton Turyagyenda, a former permanent secretary in the ministry of internal affairs. We shared a lot because she was also a widow. She gave me courage to stand strong and raise up my kids. Luckily my children remained good — always respectful — even after their father’s death.
How close are you to her?
We are too close, Juliana likes staying around me. We go to the salon together. In fact, when I go alone, she feels bad.
As a mother what is your wish for your children?
I wish all my children to get stable marriages because I can be sure they are safe.
FACT FILE
Name: Catherine Byabusa Manyindo,
Place of birth: Buhizi, Nyantungo in Kyenjojo district.
Parents: Late Shem and Easter Kabayaga Byabusa
Education: Nyantungo Primary School, Madox SS in Kyenjojo and College of Business Studies in Kampala where she studied secretarial studies in 1972.
Marriage: May, I, 1975 to Prince Gerald Phillip Manyindo (RIP)
Number of children: Five
How she met Juliana's father: I was staying with my uncle in Kamwokya, and Prince Gerald used to come to visit my uncle. We became friends in 1973. After two years we married.