36 couples tie knot in Ntungamo mass wedding

The church particularly cleared fees for the couples in addition to holding for them a joint party. Some of the newlyweds were also dressed in gowns hired with the church’s help.

“People are fearing wedding because of due costs. This is one reason that the church must come in to find the lost people, aid them to legalise their marriages and maybe this would be a double advantage, t church and to the couples.” Ven. Mwebembezi said.

However, he denounced increasing domestic violence, including amongst marrieds.

Speaking at the sidelines of the wedding, Ntungamo District woman Member of Parliament (MP) Joseline Kamateneti asked government to consider legality of marriages at customary level.

“About 95% of the couples we have are not wedded, people call that illegal marriage, but I think legality should begin at the husband visiting the wife’s household and doing the customary rituals. There should be certificates issued and this should be the centre of marriage. Many women are suffering legality issues after their husbands die because they are not wedded even after staying together for years. We need to look into this,” Kamateneti emphasized.

The youngest couple had lived together for 5 years while the oldest have been together for 53 years without considering church marriage, according to Rev Mwebembezi.

Wilson Twamuhabwa Kadidi an economist with the ministry of finance who was one of the sponsors of the event acknowledged the role played by the church in stabilizing families.

“Without the church involvement, issues of violence, criminality and immorality would be so high.