February 14 will be Valentine’s Day. Also known as Saint Valentine’s Day, it is celebrated annually. Usually on this day, people surprise their loved ones with gifts, lunch and dinner dates, cards, flowers, among other things, as a gesture of love. Weekender’s Joan Mbabazi asked a variety of people what their views on celebrating the day are.

Emmanuel Sibomana, Media personality

Personally, I think a strong couple doesn’t need to celebrate Valentine’s Day to prove their love. Valentine’s Day has become a highly commercialised day of ‘forced love’. Quality love shouldn’t be celebrated on one day a year. Love can be expressed 365/366 days a year. What hurts is that commercials exaggerate it—they imply that if you don’t gift your lover on this day, you don’t love them, which isn’t true.

Allen Mutamba, Administrator

Yes, I do believe in celebrating Valentine’s Day. I know it’s a symbolic day to consider the love that we give daily and think about how to improve. This love isn’t only for relationships. It cuts across religion too.

Joshua Tahinduka, Public speaker

Although every day is a day for us to celebrate our loved ones, just like a birthday or any other special day, I like to remind my wife how special she is to me. It gives us a chance to add ‘spice’ to our relationship, and I know how special the day is to her, so I do it to put a smile on her face. She does the same for me. So, if your significant other or loved one likes a little surprise on Valentine’s Day, just do it without over-thinking. The rewards of making them smile will be harvested with two hands.

Joselyne Nzisabira, Poet

I feel like it can be theorised. As we celebrate any religious holy day including Christmas, for the sake of giving value to a certain activity which might have either happened or been recognised on that day, yes, we then need to value what St. Valentine did. But again, this day seems to have lost the value we used to give it. Currently speaking, Valentine’s Day became more of a day for romantic couples to have fun, go out—more of a vacation day. On that note, I wouldn’t judge those who decide not to waste their time and money, and completely take it as any other day.

Rwego Ngarambe, Lawyer

I don’t believe in celebrating a particular day for our loved ones, but I consider celebrating Valentine’s Day every day. This is because we must love every day and unconditionally. Thus, there is no special day to show your partner how grateful you are for their presence in your life, instead, every single day must be seen as an opportunity to celebrate love.

Emmanuel Rwozi, Customer Service manager

Business-wise, Valentine’s Day is the perfect day to raise sales, but family-wise, it is really pointless, because I believe that to people who truly love one another, every day is Valentine’s Day.

Kevin Patience, Journalist

Much as I don’t mind the celebrations, they are not a big deal to me because one thing I do believe in is the daily celebration of love. I love surprises and if my boyfriend or any person I love surprises me, or not, I will still love them as much as I have always.

Irene Abwooli, Entrepreneur 

We have different opinions about Valentine’s 

Day but it doesn’t really matter whom you choose to celebrate it with. Or if you choose not to celebrate. It all comes down to one’s choice or belief. Though it’s a day to show affection to the ones we care about.  It could be a partner, friend, parent, or any other family member, a workmate, not forgetting yourself. This can be the day people reconcile with one another. Letting go of the past and what hurt them. It also brings out a clear picture of what love is about and caring for one another.

Claire Mutesi, Financial expert

If I am surprised with gifts on any day, it still means as much on Valentine’s Day. The acts on Valentine’s Day should be done on other days too. I won’t feel bad if my boyfriend fails to do something special on Valentine’s Day because I know he has proved that he loves and cares about me and our relationship in many ways. Not making it a special day doesn’t make him half a man. He remains the same man that melted my heart years back.