Jinja, Uganda | THE INDEPENDENT | First Deputy Prime Minister Rebecca Kadaga has launched a fundraising drive for the forthcoming royal wedding of the Kyabazinga, Gabula Nadiope, to HRH Jovia Mutesi.
Earlier this month, Gabula was introduced to Mutesi’s parents in Mayuge district, leading to a traditional wedding, befitting of royals.
The couple also agreed on a church wedding slated for 18th, November, 2023, where Mutesi will be formally unveiled as Busoga’s queen, to whole of the kingdom.
She will be referred to as ‘Inhebantu’, which is interpreted as ‘mother’ for all, the formal title for queens in Busoga Kingdom.
Kadaga also unveiled a 23 member committee on Friday, led by Engineer, Patrick Batumbya, which will oversee all the organization for the royal wedding.
The committee is also composed of the presidential affairs minister, Milly Babalanda, as the local governments’ mobilizer, general duties minister Justine Lumumba, as the head of media, KCCA director Dorothy Kisaka in charge of special assignments, the chairman of Uganda Moslem supreme council, Dr. Mohammed Lubega, as the general coordinator and David Batema, and the resident judge of Iganga High Court.
Kadaga acknowledged recipient of 304 million Shillings, which was collected from the members of the organizing committee, as a steering wheel ahead of other fundraising drives for the royal wedding.
She further unveiled the centenary bank account, coupled with both the Airtel money and MTN mobile money merchant codes, all registered under the name “The Kyabazinga of Busoga,” where funds from well-wishers across Busoga sub region and the entire world shall send their monetary contributions with ease.
She however, directed the committee to do due diligence of the individuals whom they have earmarked to fundraise from, so as to avoid tendencies of belittling the King and the whole royalty after the wedding. “You should be careful with everyone you’re mobilizing these funds from, because some showoffs may resolve to boast on how they helped the Kyabazinga to marry a wife, an issue, which is belittling to the entire Kingdom,” she said.
On his part, Busoga’s premier, Dr. Joseph Muvawala says that, the royal wedding will be streamed live on major media platforms across the country, with screeing at centers where wedding cake shall be served at all the district headquarters in the Busoga sub region, so as to enable everyone to experience the feel of the wedding wherever they are.
“This is an all inclusive wedding, where grassroots people have been prioritized to have a feel of it’s happenings, since the space for both the church wedding and royal reception are limited, but with streaming centers at the different district headquarters, homes and play grounds will enable everyone to have live time access to the event, even when faraway,” he said.
When asked on the actual budget for the royal wedding, Muvawala argued that the expenditure for this event will be realized after concluding the ongoing fundraising drives. “Collections determine the expenditure and you cannot decide on the expenditure without having the money first, therefore, let us collect the money first, then details of the whole budget shall be disclosed at a later stage,” he said.
Kisaka hailed Gabula for opting for an inclusive royal wedding, with involvement of the grassroots communities and she promised to deliver a successful, memorable event.