KAMPALA, UGANDA | NOW THEN DIGITAL — The wedding launch of Kyabazinga William Gabula Nadiope IV and Ms Jovia Mutesi has successfully raised a total of Shs304m, as reported by the organising committee responsible for the royal wedding.
The wedding ceremony between Kyabazinga Gabula and Ms Mutesi is scheduled to take place on November 18 at Bugembe Christ’s Cathedral in Jinja North City Division. Following the ceremony, the guests will be treated to a reception at the kingdom headquarters, also located in Bugembe.
During a recent announcement at the kingdom headquarters, Mr Patrick Batumbya, the chairperson of the organising committee, revealed that the fundraising drive had already generated Sh304m in cash. He further highlighted that Bugabula and Bunha chiefdoms, the respective ancestral homes of the Kyabazinga and Inhebantu, are expected to make the largest contributions towards the wedding.
The 23-member organising committee includes notable individuals such as Ms Dorothy Kisaka, the executive director of Kampala Capital City Authority (KCCA), and Ms Milly Babalanda, the Minister for the Presidency.
Mr Joseph Muvawala, the kingdom’s prime minister, explained that due to limited capacity, Bugembe Cathedral can only accommodate 400 people, while the reception venue can accommodate a maximum of 2,000 people. As a result, additional mini venues within the district have been arranged to accommodate the overflow of guests.
“Bugembe Cathedral can only accommodate 400 people, while the reception venue cannot exceed 2,000 people. Therefore, mini venues in the district have been made as interventions.’’
Regarding the budget, Mr Muvawala did not provide specific details but stated that well-wishers are welcome to contribute to the wedding. He emphasized that all funds are expected to be raised internally to demonstrate that Busoga Sub-region is not impoverished.
According to the Uganda Bureau of Statistics (Ubos) in FY2021/2022, 14.5 percent of people in Busoga Sub-region are classified as “totally poor,” with Bukedea and Acholi having poverty rates of 10.4 percent and 10.3 percent, respectively.
During the function, Ms Rebecca Kadaga, the Minister for East African Community Affairs, presided over the event and urged caution among the members of the organising committee.
She advised them to avoid accepting contributions from individuals who may claim that the wedding would not have taken place without their financial support. “I request you (members of the organising committee) to be careful and avoid collecting money from people who will say the wedding wouldn’t have taken place if their contribution was not made.’’
Ms Kadaga also encouraged the organisers to ensure that the wedding becomes a memorable event, often referred to as the “wedding of the century.”
