Maurice and Maria's golden toast to love

FAMILY&RELATIONSHIP

Maurice and Maria Mukasa found love through friends, who hooked them up. The couple, which got married on February 14, 1970, say they each found the love they needed for the last 50 years, and still counting.

How they met

Maurice's story:

We met when she was a teacher at Rubaga Boys' Primary School and I was an assistant secretary general at the office of the district commissioner in Mpigi district.

At the time, I was specifically looking for a marriage partner, preferably from an aristocratic family. I spoke to a friend who was the inspector of schools in Mpigi about my plans to get married, who told me about the teachers he knew.

I remember my friend got me about four women to choose from, but only one caught my attention. First of all, I wanted to marry someone with a teaching background and a Catholic who hailed from Masaka.

Therefore, meeting Maria was a blessing because she also had a man of her dreams in mind. When she learnt that I was working in a political office, she rejected me at first.

She did not like the limelight that came with politics or being a politician's spouse.

Maria's story:

In 1965, I graduated as a Grade 1 teacher from Kyambogo Teacher Training College and was posted to Shimoni Demonstration School the following year.

I was later posted to Rubaga Boys'Junior School. Two friends introduced me to the same man when I was a Grade 3 teacher at Rubaga Boys' Primary School.

I had never thought about getting married to a politician, so when my friend told me about him, I remember telling her how I could not marry a politician.

After about two months, another friend introduced me to the same man. Because Maurice had told a few of his friends that he was ready to get married, his neighbour took the initiative to link us.

Remember, this was our second meeting, but I was not ready to fall in love with a politician.

To put him off, I told him I had a boyfriend, but I actually I did not. At the back of my mind, I wanted a man from my home district and from a different profession. I did not want a teacher.

But our second meeting was memorable because I remember he came to the school in a huge car that impressed everyone, and before I knew it, he was asking for an outing which I turned down.

I turned down his date because this was our first day of meeting and talking seriously. However, as time went on, we became friends and started dating.

what caught your eye?

Maurice:

I did not fall in love with Maria because of her physical appearance, but her love and discipline paved way for a strong affection. I found her to be a brilliant young girl, who was serious about what she wanted. That is the person I was looking for.

Maria:

I found Maurice caring and a gentleman, which I did not expect of a politician. I cannot forget how romantic he was every time he visited me at the school.

He would bring me flowers and to my surprise, he would keep time whenever he promised to take me out.

Maria speaks about their courtship

He was a good man, and it took me nearly seven months to take him home to meet my brother, who was excited about my boyfriend.

When we went home, my mother was a bit curious when she learnt my boyfriend was working in a political office. My father had no qualms about me getting married to a man of my choice. I recall that he gave us his blessing.

Since meeting my family, he started introducing me to his friends and involving me in their political campaigns. This gave me confidence and I started believing in the man I was about to adore with my heart.

As he was a friend to the late Emmanuel Cardinal Nsubuga, we were wedded on Valentine's Day in 1970 at Lubaga Cathedral.

That day became so special to us that instead of celebrating Valentine's Day, we celebrate our wedding anniversary. We also cherish the fact the late Monsignor Aloysius Ngobya attended our wedding and blessed us on the eve of the wedding.

I would choose her again — Maurice

Maurice, 80: I believe that communication has done a lot in keeping our love for 50 years. We have learnt that to keep our relationship alive, we need to communicate to each other even on issues one would consider small.

Without communication, a relationship cannot survive. We support each other in many ways, which has kept our love growing.

So couples should be ready to live with each other as friends in good and tough times, not forgetting the vows they made before God.

Maria is a selfless woman and good storyteller, who I am proud of. I believe that our marriage is my fate and if given another chance, I would still choose her.

Our marriage was blessed with five sons, two of whom passed on. They have been also blessed with grandchildren.

Since we were both employed, we used to support each other in money matters so that we could live a stress-free life. At the end of each month, we would sit together and budget for the money we had.

This helped us understand that we are partners and that could be one of the reasons we managed to educate our children and set aside investments for our retirement.

The couple has rental units in Natete from which they earn a steady income.

Maria, 75: I understand that every relationship has its ups and downs, but in the last 50 years, we have never thought of divorcing.

I believe we are compatible because we have learnt the power of apologising, and that keeps us moving. Maurice has been my friend and still is. We keep no secrets from each other and every day is a new day of love.

My husband has also supported me from the time my leg was operated on due to diabetes on September 17, 2011, and I had never seen such love.