Lea Salonga takes on a role that brings her ‘literal terror’

Fresh from the unveiling of her star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame and lending her voice as the manananggal in Dreamworks’ ‘Forgotten Island,’ actress Lea Salonga is gearing up for her next role.

As the titular character in Theatre Group Asia’s (TGA) Philippine staging of ‘Ang Tahanan ni Bernarda Alba’ (The House of Bernarda Alba), Lea will play the 60-year-old matriarch of a traditional Filipino family who is determined to keep up appearances at all costs.

The play written by Federico Garcia Lorca was originally set in a town in Andalusia, Spain, where the overbearing Bernarda keeps close watch on her five daughters, all of whom are slowly wilting under their mother’s glare.

If there’s one thing that can be said about Lea, it’s that she makes good copy. During a series of group interviews held last October 10, she listened to each question that was asked and gave a reply that was well thought out in turn.

It’s possible she fielded the same questions or versions of them yet she still appeared genuinely interested.

Asked if she would ice out her co-stars who play her daughters – like Meryl Streep did to Anne Hathaway and Emily Blunt in the first ‘The Devil Wears Prada’ – Lea said she wouldn’t.

‘I think once the light hits us, that’s when there’s a switch that happens. [Unlike movies, in a play] there is such a drastic contrast between what backstage looks like and what onstage looks like so it’s very easy to jump in and out,’ the actress said.

She also pointed out that since ‘Tahanan’ is a play, they should be able to make that distinction.

‘I don’t think any of us necessarily needs to bring into real life this feeling. I want whatever happens on stage to stay there because the play is heavy. It would be overkill if that energy is brought backstage. For me, backstage needs to feel like your refuge, your sanctuary,’ she added.

The tragic masterpiece of matriarchal despotism is adapted by director-playwright Chay Yew and translated into Filipino by Guelan Varela-Luarca. Lea isn’t exaggerating when she talks about the play’s heaviness.

Immediately after the group interviews, this writer downloaded and read Lorca’s play, noting the biting words Bernarda uses when she addresses her children.

After striking her daughter Martirio with her stick, Bernarda says, ‘May you be cut to pieces, you good-for-nothing! You sower of discord!’

To another daughter who is determined to wed, ‘You shouldn’t ask [your husband]. Speak if he speaks, and look at him if he looks at you. You’ll be better off that way.’

Salonga says the Filipino translation is even more biting and shocking. When Bernarda notices that one of her daughter is wearing makeup, she tells her to wipe it off because she looks like a cheap whore.

‘[In Tahanan,] Guelan uses ‘pipitsuging puta,” she quipped.

Best known internationally for her Tony Award-winning performance in ‘Miss Saigon,’ Salonga has also received the Olivier, Drama Desk, Outer Critics Circle, and Theatre World Awards. She became the first Asian actress to play Eponine on Broadway in ‘Les Misérables’ and later returned to the musical as Fantine in its 2006 revival.

Her Broadway credits also include ‘Once on This Island,’ ‘Allegiance,’ ‘Flower Drum Song,’ ‘Here Lies Love,’ and Sondheim’s ‘Old Friends.’

On TV, she was last seen in ‘Pretty Little Liars’ and ‘The Cleaning Lady.’ She is a bona fide Disney legend having lent her singing voice to Princess Jasmine in ‘Aladdin’ and Fa Mulan in ‘Mulan’ and ‘Mulan II.’

Lea played The Witch in TGA’s staging of the musical ‘Into the Woods’ but in ‘Ang Tahanan ni Bernarda Alba,’ she will step into one of theater’s most complex and commanding roles.

‘To be perfectly honest, I hadn’t encountered this play before, which may work in my favor as I have no preconceived notions or strong opinions,’ Salonga said in a statement.

‘After reading both Chay’s English translation and then Guelan’s translation into Filipino, despite the literal terror I feel in my soul, this is an absolutely important work to tackle. It fits our culture and is timely given the state of current events in the world,’ she added.

‘Ang Tahanan ni Bernada Alba’ is presented by Ayala Land and Theatre Group Asia and is the second offering of its 2026-2027 season.

A spin on a classic: Kinilaw with Shredded Ripe Langka

Normally, you add vegetables (such as diced bell pepper and onion) to really fresh fish fillet (tuna, tanigue, blue marlin, bangus, dilis), ‘cook’ them in acid (vinegar, lemon, lime, calamansi juice), season with salt and pepper, and you’ve got a good kinilaw for appetizer or pulutan (food to share) with friends over beer).

Seldom do you hear fruits, such as ripe langka (jackfruit), being added to it, but celebrity chef Myke “Tatung” Sarthou’s version of kinilaw is unique. He incorporates shredded ripe langka into his fish, adding a little sweetness, texture and mouthfeel into the dish. And it works!

‘Not every kinilaw has to be sharp and austere. In this version, ripe langka lends a quiet sweetness that softens the vinegar without taking away the freshness of the fish. It is a pairing that feels familiar in many Southern Filipino kitchens, where fruit often finds its way into savory dishes,’ the chef noted.

He added: ‘The beauty of this kinilaw lies in its balance. The ginger should announce itself before the vinegar does. The langka should leave only a whisper of sweetness, and the fish should always remain the star. Like all good kinilaws, it should taste less like a recipe and more like the sea, brightened by the generosity of the land.’

Kinilaw with Shredded Ripe Langka

Ingredients:

500 grams very fresh tuna, blue marlin or tanigue, cut into 1cm. cubes

1 1/2 tsps. sea salt

80 ml. sukang tuba

20 ml. fesh biasing or calamansi juice

2 tbsps. finely minced ginger

1 pc. small red onion, thinly sliced

1 pc. small shallot, thinly sliced

1 pc. bird’s eye chili, thinly sliced (optional)

80-100 grams ripe langka, finely shredded

2 tbsps. cucumber, finely diced

2 tbsps. leeks, finely chopped

Freshly cracked black pepper

1 tsp. finely chopped tabon-tabon (optional)

Procedure:

1. Sprinkle sea salt on fish. Let it rest for about 5 minutes.

2. In a bowl, combine sukang tuba, biasing juice, ginger, onion, shallot, and chili. Allow the flavors to meld together for about 10 minutes.

3. Add the fish and toss gently. Cure for 5 to 8 minutes, depending on how firm you like your kinilaw.

4. Fold in shredded langka, cucumber, and leeks. Mix gently so the fish keeps its shape.

5. Season with freshly cracked black pepper. Taste and adjust with a little more vinegar or citrus, if needed.

6. Serve immediately while well chilled.

Insecurity: EU commits pound 20m to boost Nigeria’s fight

The European Union is set to provide pound 20 million in defence assistance to Nigeria to help the military tackle insecurity across the country.

The Minister of Defence, Christopher Musa, disclosed this during a meeting with the EU Ambassador to Nigeria and the Economic Community of West African States, Gautier Mignot, in Abuja.

The assistance will be provided under the European Peace Facility, an EU programme that supports peace and security. An EU technical team is expected to visit Abuja in November to discuss how the funds and support will be delivered.

According to a statement issued on Saturday by the minister’s aide, Leah Katung-Babatunde, the meeting focused on security cooperation between Nigeria and the EU.

Musa thanked the European Union for its continued support for Nigeria’s efforts to address insecurity. He also reaffirmed the Federal Government’s commitment to protecting lives and property.

The minister said relative peace was gradually returning to the country because of the efforts of the Armed Forces and other security agencies.

However, he identified kidnapping along major highways and attacks on isolated communities as major security challenges that still needed to be addressed.

Musa also disclosed that Nigeria was expecting 10 attack helicopters, unmanned aerial vehicles and other important military equipment through the efforts of President Bola Tinubu’s administration.

On regional security, the minister warned that the shrinking Lake Chad Basin, which supports more than 50 million people, could create further security problems.

He said preventing terrorists from using islands in Lake Chad as operational bases remained a major priority for the Multinational Joint Task Force, which works to combat terrorism in the region.

Musa also called for greater attention to people affected by conflicts under the Disarmament, Demobilisation and Reintegration programme. He stressed that military personnel affected by the conflict should also receive proper support.

Earlier, Mignot praised the minister’s efforts to improve Nigeria’s security situation and invited him to a meeting of defence ministers scheduled to take place in Brussels later in the year.

The EU ambassador also commended a recent conference involving former and serving commanders of the Multinational Joint Task Force. Representatives of the African Union and the Lake Chad Basin Commission attended the meeting.

Mignot said the planned visit by the EU technical team in November would help finalise arrangements for delivering the pound 20 million defence assistance.

Inquirer report on PH debt burden wins Best News Coverage at 48th CMMA

The Psychological Association of the Philippines (PAP) has condemned a podcast’s discriminatory remarks about Kris Aquino’s son Josh, who is on the autism spectrum, and urged content creators to produce sensitive and ethical content.

In a now-deleted podcast episode, Tito P, one of the five male hosts of ‘Machong Chismisan,’ mocked Josh by saying ‘walang kwenta’ (worthless) while laughing.

Another host called out Tito P, describing the remark as a ‘low blow,’ which also prompted others to laugh.

The PAP said that ‘disparagement humor can reinforce prejudicial norms and contribute to the normalization of stigma,’ emphasizing that neurodevelopmental conditions should not be treated as punchlines.

‘The words used in public media shape culture. When content creators demean neurodivergent traits, they risk reinforcing prejudice and causing real psychological harm to individuals and their principles,’ it added.

It cited the United Nations’ Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities, which provides that persons with disabilities should be treated with utmost respect on all platforms.

The group also urged content creators to be accountable for the content they release on their platforms.

‘Freedom of expression comes with social responsibility. While ADHD [attention deficit hyperactivity disorder] and other disabilities may affect self-regulation, a diagnosis does not automatically excuse harmful behavior,’ the PAP said.

‘Accountability should be fair and sensitive to individual circumstances. Using offensive humor at the expense of marginalized groups is ethically unacceptable,’ it added.

Machong Chismisan has apologized for its hosts’ demeanor and remarks, acknowledging that the comments made during the deleted episode ‘were inexcusably insensitive and hurtful.’

The Podcast Network then announced the termination of its contract with Machong Chismisan.

The People’s Republic: How they rule

4. The Government of each Region was headed by a Premier who was empowered to assemble and apportion portfolios among his team of Ministers.

5. The House of Representatives and the Council of Ministers no longer had official members as before, but continued to have three ex officio members as follows:

The Chief Secretary.

The Financial Secretary.

The Attorney-General.

The Governor, who now became Governor-General, continued to preside over the Council of Ministers.

6. With the exception of the Northern Region, the seats of all ex officio and official members in the Regional legislatures and Executive Councils were abolished. The Western Legislature was free to elect its own President (styled Speaker in the Western House of Assembly). The Governor (formerly Lieutenant-Governor) himself presided over the meetings of the Northern House of Chiefs; but the President of the Northern House of Assembly was appointed by the Governor acting in his discretion. In more or less the same fashion, the Speaker of the Eastern House of Assembly was appointed by the Governor acting in his discretion after consultation with the Leaders of the majority and Opposition parties.

7. The Governor of a Region (formerly Lieutenant-Governor) continued to preside over its Executive Council as before.

8. Under the Macpherson Constitution the Minister administered the Department (not Ministry) under his charge in association with the Official Head of the Department. What this meant in practice was that the Minister had no decisive say on any issue relating to his Department. If the Minister failed to carry the Official Head of the Department along on any subject, then the matter would have to fall into abeyance. This was one of the defects of the Macpherson Constitution. Accordingly, the new constitution conferred upon Ministers both at the Federal and Regional levels general direction and control of, and individual responsibility for, the Departments within their portfolios. Departments now became Ministries, and Official Heads of Departments became Permanent Secretaries of the Ministries.

9. Each Region had complete control of the personnel of the various sectors of its public service. But the appointment, promotion and discipline of Judges and Civil Servants remained vested in the Governor advised by a Public Service Commission.

10. Lagos was severed from the Western Region and declared a Federal Territory subject only to the authority of the Federal Government.

11. With regard to the demand for self-government in 1956, Her Majesty’s Government decided that it was not prepared to fix a definite date for self-government for Nigeria as a whole. However, it accepted a declaration of policy that it was prepared to grant, in 1956, ‘to those Regions which desired it, full self-government in respect of all matters within the competence of the Regional. Governments, with the proviso that there should be safeguards to ensure that the Regional Governments did not act so as to impede or prejudice the exercise by the Federal Government of the functions assigned to it now, or as amended by agreement in the future, or in any way make the continuance of the federation impossible. ‘5

12. The 1953/54 Conference agreed that another Conference should be convened not later than 31 August 1956, for the purpose of reviewing the new constitution, and examining the question of self-government. The last four words were later interpreted to mean the demand for a target date for self-government for the whole of Nigeria, as well as the detailed provisions for self-government by any Region which desired it. Her Majesty’s Government felt that it needed the long adjournment for three years to enable it to judge the capability of Nigerian leaders for additional political responsibility.

For reasons with which we do not need to concern ourselves here, the Conference did not reconvene until May 1957. At this Conference, both the East and the West were granted Regional Self-Government with effect from August 1957. It was at the resumed Conference of 1958 that Regional Self-Government was granted to the North with effect from March 1959. As a result of agreement reached at this Conference, a Nigerian Federal Head of Government, designated Prime Minister to distinguish him from Regional Premiers, was appointed in 1957.

A comprehensive review of the 1954 constitution which was initiated in 1957 was concluded at the resumed meetings of the Conference in 1958. It was at the close of this Conference that the famous declaration was made that ‘if a resolution is passed by the new Federal Parliament early in 1960 asking for independence, Her Majesty’s Government would agree to that request and would introduce a Bill in Parliament to enable Nigeria to become a fully independent country on the 1st October, 1960.’6 It must be pointed out that the detailed agreements reached at the 1957/58 Conference were embodied in Nigeria’s Independence Constitution of 1960. The legal drafting had taken about two years to accomplish.

It will be seen that it was from the ruins and ashes of the Macpherson Constitution that Nigeria’s swift and far-reaching political advances, beginning with a wide measure of Home Rule in 1954 and culminating in independence in 1960, had, like the mythical phoenix, arisen.

‘Report on the Amalgamation of Northern and Southern Nigeria and Administration, 1912-1919, paragraph 187.

The Nigeria (Legislative Council) Order in Council, 1946.

Proposals for the Revision of the Constitution of Nigeria, CMD 6599, paragraph 8.

Report by the Conference on the Nigerian Constitution, London, August 1953. CM 0 8934.

Ibid paragraph 28.

Report by the Resumed Nigeria Constitutional Conference, London, October

1958, paragraph 84.

Just because you feel it doesn’t make it true: Understanding emotional reasoning

Have you ever felt so anxious about something that you became convinced it would end badly? Have you ever made a mistake, felt ashamed and started believing that you were a failure? Perhaps someone you care about seemed distant, and before you had a chance to understand what was happening, you had already concluded that they were angry with you. Sometimes, our feelings can be so powerful that we begin to treat them as evidence that our thoughts must be true.

In our previous conversations about cognitive distortions, we explored how the mind can sometimes misinterpret situations and influence the way we see ourselves and the world around us. Today, we turn to another thinking trap that many of us experience without realising it: emotional reasoning. It happens when we treat our feelings as proof that something is objectively true. We feel rejected, so we assume someone has rejected us. We feel guilty, so we conclude that we must have done something wrong. We feel afraid, so we believe that something terrible is about to happen.

But although our feelings are real and deserve attention, the conclusions we draw from them are not always accurate.

Imagine standing before an audience to give an important presentation. Your heart is beating rapidly, your palms are sweaty and your stomach feels uncomfortable. You begin to think, ‘I am not prepared. I am going to embarrass myself.’ Yet, what do those physical sensations actually tell you? They tell you that you are nervous. They do not necessarily mean that you are unprepared or that your presentation will go badly. You may have studied, practised and prepared thoroughly, but the anxiety you feel makes you doubt yourself.

This is how emotional reasoning can mislead us. Anxiety can make danger seem closer than it is. Sadness can make the future appear hopeless. Anger can make another person’s behaviour seem deliberately hurtful, while shame can make us feel that we are not good enough. Our emotions provide useful information about our experiences, needs and concerns, but they do not always tell the whole story.

Think about receiving a message from someone you care about. Their reply seems shorter than usual, and you suddenly feel uneasy. Your mind begins to suggest that something is wrong between you. You may replay previous conversations, search for signs of displeasure and become increasingly convinced that the relationship is in trouble. Yet, the person may simply be busy, tired or distracted. Your anxiety tells you that the relationship matters to you and that you are uncertain about what is happening. It does not prove that something is wrong.

This is why learning to separate what we feel from what we know is so important. Saying, ‘I feel like they are angry with me’ is different from saying, ‘They are angry with me.’ Feeling that you cannot cope is not the same as being incapable of coping. Feeling that you will fail does not mean failure is inevitable. The first statement acknowledges an emotional experience; the second turns that experience into a conclusion that may not be supported by the facts.

This does not mean we should ignore our emotions. Feelings can alert us to problems that need attention, boundaries that need to be established or experiences that deserve further reflection. The goal is to listen to our emotions without automatically accepting every conclusion they suggest. We can feel afraid and still move forward. We can feel inadequate and still be capable. We can feel uncertain and still make a thoughtful decision. We can feel sad and still have reasons to hope.

Here is a little Mind Exercise to carry with you this week. Whenever you notice yourself thinking that something must be true simply because you feel it, pause and ask yourself: ‘What am I feeling, and what do I actually know?’ You might say, ‘I feel anxious, but I do not know that something bad will happen,’ or, ‘I feel rejected, but I do not yet know what the other person is thinking.’ This small pause can help you separate your emotional experience from the conclusion your mind is drawing.

The aim is not to suppress your feelings or become emotionally detached. It is to understand them without allowing them to automatically define your reality. Sometimes, a feeling needs comfort, sometimes it needs investigation, and sometimes it simply needs time to settle before we decide what it means.

Next week, we will explore another thinking trap: discounting the positive, the tendency to acknowledge something good and then immediately find a reason why it does not really count.

Until then, remember: your feelings are real, but they are not always facts.

Makinde: Nigeria’s main challenge Is Poverty, not Religion

Presidential Candidate of Allied Peoples Movement (APM) and Oyo State Governor, Seyi Makinde, says the country’s biggest problem is poverty.

Makinde said this while reacting to his recognition as Christian Icon of the Year, by the Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN) in Abuja, on Saturday.

He said the honour presented an opportunity to encourage Christians to take active role in politics where they can shape the country’s political and economic future.

He cautioned against the tendency among many Christians to avoid politics because of the notion that it is a dirty game or at variance with their religious beliefs.

Makinde said Christians must move beyond such perceptions and recognise politics as an important platform for contributing to national development and addressing the challenges confronting the people.

He urged them to draw inspiration from biblical examples of individuals who served in difficult circumstances in order to advance the work of God and the people.

The governor said the biblical account offered an important lesson for Christians who might be reluctant to serve in political environments because of the religious beliefs of those in authority.

He argued that religious considerations should not prevent them from participating in governance or contributing their expertise and values to the transformation of society.

‘I will use this opportunity to encourage our Christian brothers and sisters across the country to rise and participate in the agenda to transform Nigeria and reset our country,’ Makinde said.

He maintained that Nigeria’s most pressing challenge was the widespread poverty confronting millions of people, stressing that national attention should focus on addressing the economic difficulties affecting the population.

‘Our problem is not primarily a religious one. Our problem in this country is poverty, grinding poverty,’ he said.

Makinde said the country could not afford to lose sight of the urgent socioeconomic issues requiring attention by allowing religious differences to dominate national conversations.

The governor stressed that the task of national transformation required collective participation, irrespective of religious affiliations, political differences or personal convictions.

Bagudu: Tinubu’s reforms yielding results

Minister of Budget and Economic Planning, Senator Abubakar Bagudu, says Nigeria’s economic reforms are beginning to yield results, in spite of initial concerns about their feasibility.

Bagudu spoke at Nigeria’s news conference on Saturday in Bangkok, Thailand, during the 2026 World Bank/IMF Annual Meetings.

He commended President Bola Tinubu for the political will to implement the reforms, expressing confidence that sustained efforts would deliver higher economic growth.

The minister said stronger coordination between fiscal and monetary policies would be critical to consolidating the gains and achieving the country’s economic objectives.

He said experiences from previous years had provided valuable lessons for addressing Nigeria’s economic challenges and improving the implementation of government policies.

According to him, closer collaboration among government institutions would strengthen efforts to achieve the economic targets set by Tinubu for 2030.

Bagudu also expressed optimism about Nigeria’s international standing, citing growing confidence in the country’s governance, transparency and economic management.

He commended the Minister of Finance and Coordinating Minister of the Economy, Mr Taiwo Oyedele, and other officials for their contributions to the reform process.

Bagudu described Tinubu as a visionary leader whose decisions demonstrated courage and commitment to national development.

He said implementing the reforms required political will, adding that the administration remained determined to sustain the progress recorded.

The minister urged government officials and other stakeholders to maintain cooperation, stressing the need to consolidate existing gains and achieve Nigeria’s economic growth objectives.

Mining Marshals deny involvement in operation linked to miners’ deaths

The Commander of the Mining Marshals, Assistant Commandant of Corps, John Onoja Attah, has rejected claims linking the specialised NSCDC unit to the September 16 operation at M.I. Wushishi Housing Estate in Minna, Niger State, declaring that the suspended Niger State Commandant, Suberu Siyaka Aniviye, lacked the authority to deploy its operatives.

Onoja Attah, in a statement issued by his office at the NSCDC National Headquarters in Abuja, described the claim attributed to Aniviye in a publication on October 16, 2026, as false and misleading, insisting that no Mining Marshals personnel participated in the operation now under investigation by the Justice Mohammed Mohammed Commission of Inquiry.

The suspended commandant was quoted as saying that he visited the mining site on September 15 before deploying Mining Marshals to the area.

But Attah dismissed the assertion, arguing that it misrepresented the command structure and operational jurisdiction of the specialised unit.

‘No Mining Marshals operative is attached to the Niger State Command or to any State Command of the Corps for that matter,’ he stated, stressing that the unit operates exclusively from the National Headquarters under the direct command, control and operational directives of the Commandant-General, in collaboration with the ministry of Solid Minerals Development.

He added that a state commandant had no authority to deploy Mining Marshals for any operation.

‘Our operational records confirm that at no time were Mining Marshals personnel deployed or involved in the said operation,’ Onoja Attah said, warning against attempts to associate the unit with the custodial deaths currently being investigated.

The commander also defended the operational record of the Mining Marshals, describing its enforcement activities under the Nigerian Minerals and Mining Act, 2007, as professional, civil and guided by the law.

According to him, the unit has maintained strict adherence to its rules of engagement since its establishment, with no record of human rights violations in its operations across the country and no pending Fundamental Human Rights Enforcement suit against it in any Nigerian court.

The Mining Marshals, he said, remained committed to sanitising Nigeria’s solid minerals sector and would not allow what he described as erroneous publications to distract it from its statutory responsibilities.

Comedian Omukebete’s last laugh after losing wife to lupus

For years, comedian David Katende, popularly known as Omukebete son of Muuke, has made audiences laugh. But his return to the National Theatre stage on October 16, carried a pain no joke could ease: the loss of his wife, Esther Nannungi, his biggest fan and the woman who encouraged him to pursue comedy.

Esther died last month after a four-year battle with lupus, leaving Omukebete and their two children to face life without her. He had considered cancelling his Joking Is Not for Jokers show, but Esther had already bought three VIP tickets.

‘I don’t know where I can find her to refund her money. Even if I put it on her mobile money account, it shall not help because I am the one with her phone,’ he says.

He eventually agreed to perform to honour her wish, but made it clear that he intended to retire.

‘This is going to be the final show of my career,’ he said. ‘Life is so heavy on me. I can’t keep performing without my number one fan. After this show, I will rest.’

A bittersweet love story

Omukebete describes September 2026 as the most painful month of his life. He is learning to sleep without hearing Esther’s familiar words: ‘Sula bulungi Daudi wange’ (sleep well, my David).

‘When the sun sets, the pain gets fresh. Painful, lonely and scary nights,’ he says.

His sister, Ticia Tendo, and other relatives have tried to keep him company, although he admits that grief remains difficult to overcome.

The couple’s four-year struggle began with about two years of unexplained symptoms before doctors at Mulago Hospital diagnosed Esther with systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE), a chronic autoimmune disease.

‘The moment felt like a deep sword in our hearts,’ he recalls.

He reassured her: ‘Totya mukwano, wendi era tugenda kukiyitamu fenna’ (Don’t worry, my love. I am here, and we will go through this together).

After crying together in their car for about three hours, they decided to make the most of their time. They went to a restaurant of Esther’s choice, then bought clothes and drove to the beach.

‘We chose to put everything on pause and live on love,’ he says.

Despite regular hospital visits, they treasured road trips, shopping, live-band evenings, family camping and visits to their farm.

‘We always took one day at a time and lived each day as our last day together,’ he says.

Esther once told him his commitment during her illness had convinced her that he would honour his marriage vows.

‘Daudi, the day we shall say ‘for better for worse’ at our wedding I will believe you because you have been there during better and worse days,’ she told him.

She never lived to see their wedding day.

The woman behind the family

Esther managed much of the family’s home and business affairs, including finances, the farm and other ventures. Her death has left Omukebete struggling with responsibilities she previously handled.

‘She left when I don’t know how to pay for electricity, water, etc. She is the one who knew how much each worker at the farm and other projects is demanding,’ he says.

Their children are also learning to cope with the loss. While their first-born, Katende, witnessed much of his mother’s illness, the younger daughter Eliana has a simpler understanding of her death.

‘She was told that mum went to be with Jesus and Jesus has ice cream and yoghurt,’ he says.

Esther also taught the children to pray, be honest, apologise and respect others. She insisted that they learn Luganda at home, despite speaking English at school.

‘I love hearing them speak our indigenous language perfectly,’ Omukebete says, vowing to preserve the values she instilled in them.

The show she wanted

Omukebete says he had battled depression for years, often hiding his pain behind humour, before taking a break from comedy to care for Esther.

‘At times I have been hiding the pain behind jokes and a few gigs because we needed money, but it hasn’t been easy,’ he says.

In May, when Esther’s condition stabilised with medication, she urged him to return to the stage.

‘Now I want to see you back on stage. I want to see you do what you love most. Stage is where you belong,’ she told him.

He booked the National Theatre in July, and Esther gave him money for three VIP tickets. She died before the October show.

The performance was initially planned alongside an inspirational book about using humour to hide pain. After her death, he revised his scripts to reflect their ‘bittersweet love story’.

Esther had always accompanied him to performances and encouraged him with the words: ‘Daudi, essaawa zituuse, tugende obakube nga tobasaasira!’ (It is time. Go and knock them dead[with laughter]; don’t spare them).

This time, he was scheduled to return to the stage without her.

‘Getting ready to go back on stage without her was the most painful event of my career,’ he said.

Omukebete rose to prominence after performing with comedy groups, including The Crackers (Mic Check) and Brainwash Comedy, before co-founding The Small Brothers. He later won the inaugural season of NBS TV’s The Comic in 2018, earning the title Uganda’s ‘Next Comedy Star’.

After his performance, Omukebete placed a portrait of his wife at the exit of the performing area and got the revellers to autograph it in memoriam.