05.01.03 Part 1 of How Negative Gossip Almost Took My Life

My Parent’s Opinion on Negative Gossip

When it comes to discussing gossip as a topic, I recollect very fond and precious memories of my parents; daddy, Professor Ephraim Hannington Kiberu Nsubuga and mummy, Mrs. Christine Joyce Margaret Namakula Nsubuga. Although they are no longer here, a week hardly goes by without recalling their teachings; one of which was to never gossip against people.

I have a vivid example to share. We grew up in the Anglican church, attending Namirembe Cathedral from a very young age. It was usual for our family to occupy a sizeable part of the pew, my dad on one end, me next being the firstborn, then came my siblings and lastly, mum. That was where I learnt my first lesson on how to manage negative gossip in public. It would happen often that while seated in the pew and watching the congregants walk by, I would catch a glimpse of someone ‘interesting’ to talk about. But before reaching daddy’s ear, he would give me that ‘don’t do that’ look. Later, mum and dad would re-emphasize that it was wrong to talk about people behind their backs verbally; or use any body language that depicted anything of that nature.