Veronica Samali Kiddu Nyakana was born in Entebbe on 5th December 1939, the much-loved last child of Erina Nagawa and the Rev Canon Zakayo Kiseke - ba Kiddu. She loved to call herself ‘omugalanda,’ meaning last borne.. Jajja Veronica had five siblings and she was the last surviving child of her parents.

In her early years, she spent time in Lango, Northern Uganda where her parents were working as missionaries. When she was old enough to start school, the young Veronica joined her siblings at the home of her maternal uncle Samson ‘Topedo’ Senkatuka e Bukesa, in Namirembe.

She went to Kalinabiri nursery school and then on to other elementary schools before joining Kings College Budo. She made many lasting friendships during this period. In our conversations, she often shared anecdotes about the friends from her childhood and school days.

It was sometime after she left Budo that she met a cool, handsome, light-skilled, soft spoken, motorcycle-riding, young man who would become her husband of nearly 60 years Mr. Eliab Kasaija Nyakana.