IBANDA MASS WEDDING: 54 COUPLES TIE KNOTS

BY ELLY  KARENZI   

IN IBANDA—

Fifty four couples  from  Ibanda ,Nyabuhikye and Kakinga archdeaconries in Ibanda district have today tied their knots at St. Paul church of Uganda during a colorful ceremony which was  presided over by the Bishop of Ankole diocese the Rt. Rev. Sheldon Mwesigwa  assisted  by   Can. Rev. Yorokamu Atwine.

The mass wedding  ceremony   took  two hours and thirty minutes   and  was witnessed by many people from different districts of Ibanda, Mbarara, Bushenyi,Kamwenge,Buhweju in a fully parked church. Women were seen dressed in wedding nets  while men in suits accompanied by matrons and best men.

Ibanda  church Zone has started implementing its plans of  wedding all couples and Christians and confirming people who have not received holy communion as a way of  strengthening and promoting church values because  it is planning to become a diocese next month in August 2016. .

Addressing thousands of well wishers and Christians, the Bishop of Ankole diocese,Rt.Rev. Mwesigwa said the  couples have started  a new journey for their matrimony in Christianity as all of them have been dating in their history. Rt. Rev Mwesigwa  said that this mass wedding ceremony was  the first of kind that he has performed since he became the Bishop of Ankole in 2010.

He revealed that many  couples  have been dating and failed to raise millions of money  to perform expensive  functions for the reception. He told  the people and church leaders that  he will table a motion in the synod the church highest  council  in Ankole diocese to pass a bye law  that couples who have been in marriage life should be considered  to pay less church fee for their wedding ceremonies. He said that the church should not be a road block to stop them to enter the kingdom of God due to church contributions.

Mr. John Mark Katongole aged 67 years  of Rwemiyega sub county in  Sembabule  district wedded Mrs.Federensi Tibihika who hails from Kitagwenda county in Kamwenge district and both they were the oldest people  to make vows.

Others who tied the  knot included Mr.  and Mrs Kato Bashaija a UPDF soldier who hails from Kafunjo cell in Ibanda Municipality ,Mr. and Mrs Grace Musinguzi Kakwene, a reknown businessman,Mr and Mrs. Brian Ssozi, a coffee trader in Ibanda municipality,Mr. Frank Kyakadosi  of Kyaruhanga municipality a among many.  A wedding procession has  paralyzed the  business and transport in Ibanda town as most of them were standing in open roof vehicles.