The Kyabazinga Wedding-A Celebration of Royalty and Splendor. (The Church Ceremony)

This was perhaps the biggest royal wedding of this century so far in Uganda.  No one can fully describe a royal wedding, even when given an entire book. The Kyabazinga wedding was simply one of a kind, and with due honesty, we cannot fully describe it in one go. This is therefore the first of a series of blogs about the vows of the Isebantu and the Inebantu of Busoga.

Call this: Kyabazinga Royal Wedding Episode 1  

On the 18th of November, in the heart of Busoga, one of Eastern Uganda’s oldest chiefdoms, a majestic wedding unfolded, captivating the nation and beyond. Kyabazinga Isebantu William Wilberforce Gabula Nadiope IV and Inebantu Jovia Mutesi in an opulent ceremony held in Bugembe, Jinja City exchanged their marital vows. A memorable wedding, it combined the rich traditions of Busoga kingdom with the elegance of modernity. From the exquisite designs in which the royal couple were adorned to the distinguished guests in and from outside the country who graced the event, this wedding was a true testament to the grandeur of Busoga’s royal heritage.

The Royal Attire

Amidst, all the cultural splendor and the celebratory glee, all eyes were on the Kyabazinga, His Royal Highness William Nadiope IV, who graced the occasion in a majestic purple robe, a true testament to the luxury of Busoga tradition. The regal purple robe was the contrivance of none other than Ugandan couturier extraordinaire, Lillian Kyabaki. Renowned for her bridal master pieces., Kyabaki was conferred with the royal task of creating a garment befitting the magnificence of the event and the royalty it embellished.

The awe-inspiring robe, carefully crafted, unfolded in intricate patterns hand-appliqued in gold suede. Each stitch told a story, a reflection of the profound heritage and rich history of the Busoga kingdom. The collaboration between Kyabaki and the Kyabazinga himself was more than a creative process; it was a labour of love and respect for Busoga’s enduring legacy. 

Underneath the royal robe, the Kyabazinga sported a white Kanzu specially crafted for the event by Larry Casual, one of Kampala’s top menswear designers. A subtle touch of modern elegance underneath the weighty layers of tradition.

Completing this regal ensemble was a matching black cap, echoing the robe’s royal purple hue. Weighing in at 2kg, the cap added an extra layer of sophistication to the Kyabazinga’s attire, turning heads and setting a new standard for regal fashion.

The Ceremony

The wedding ceremony commenced closely two and a half hours behind schedule or “late” as someone would term it, since the convoys for each of the royal couple had to find their way through a legion of gleeful subjects that thronged the roads from Budhumbula in Kamuli and Mayuge for the groom and bride respectively, to the Christ Church Cathedral Bugembe.

At the Cathedral, the Royals were embraced by euphoric ululations, music, dance, and claps in an exuberant, multisensory ode to joy. Before an estimated number of 2000 guests, who filled two huge canopies at Christ Church Cathedral Bugembe, and of course, millions of us who could only watch it live at home, the two vowed to love, cherish, comfort, and be faithful to one another, in sickness and in health till their lives clock their expiry dates.

The wedding ceremony was presided over by the Archbishop of the Church of Uganda, His Eminence Samuel Kaziimba Mugalu, who administered the marriage vows to the Kyabazinga and his Queen but also preached at the function. In the Archbishop’s sermon, he delivered a powerful message of caution against homosexuality as a threat to the true purpose and meaning of marriage.

Kaziimba had earlier thanked an eminent team of legal minds who worked together to bury the threat that had obstructed this momentous occasion, from a UK-based woman who claimed to have been married and had children with the Royal groom. 

As they say, the walk down the aisle is not always a straight one.  Sometimes it’s quite bumpy, especially if you are royalty.  Lawyers from Busoga Kingdom, the Church of Uganda, two senior judges and even top government officials all came together to resolve what was beginning to turn into a Royal fiasco. Notably, the Archbishop singled out Justice David Batema, Justice Duncan Gaswaga, as well as the Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Gender, Labour and Social Development, Aggrey Kibenge for their tremendous help.

Whereas no witness could be identified for the alleged UK wedding, the one in Bugembe was witnessed by the cream of the land. 

The Nnabagereka Sylvia Nagginda Luswata of Buganda, the Queen of Tooro Best Kemigisa Queen as well as other royals from kingdoms of Bunyoro and others honoured the church ceremony and became eligible witnesses to the vows. The Queen of Buganda signed the marriage certificates of the newlyweds as a key witness to the ceremony.

Other representatives at the ceremony included serving and past officials from the Central government like Vice President Jessica Alupo side by side with former Vice Presidents Edward Ssekandi, and Specioza Wandera Kazibwe plus a number of other ministers and leaders including Busoga’s darling daughter from Kamuli, former Parliamentary Speaker and now first Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for East African Affairs, Rt. Hon. Rebecca Alitwala Kadaga. 

The social media in-laws were quick to pick on some of the aspects they thought needed attention, the top of which was the royal vows, which were made in English as opposed to the native Lusoga. They also queried why a Muganda, Archbishop Kazimba, and not a Musoga presided over the ceremony. But social media in-laws will always find something to talk about.

Tune in next time as we tell you what happened when the royal couple left the church.