Marry young, give birth early — Father Kiibi

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“Marry young—within your age group—and give birth early.” This was the central message delivered by Father Kibi during a talk on the theme “The Real Man: Priest, Provider, and Protector.”

He stated that today, many young people delay marriage due to a fear of responsibility. However, he argued that embracing responsibility early in life is not only a sign of maturity but also a path to growth.

“If you overcome that fear,” he said, “it will help you develop faster—and more importantly—help you become a man early, with responsibilities that shape your character.”

He went on to emphasise that leadership is not a matter of age, but of mind-set.

“It doesn’t matter how old you are. As long as you are a man, you have everything in you to be a leader,” he said.

A cornerstone of his message was the concept of self-donation—a man’s complete commitment to his family.

“Focus on your wife and children,” he urged.

“Put your family first. As men, we must understand our role as servants. A man should be able to finance the family even when he is sick. You are the alpha and omega of the family.”

He also lamented the lack of proper upbringing and training for both boys and girls, especially the boy child.

“Teach the boy child how to be a real man,” he said.

“Many of them are soft—lazy like bananas. They sleep at 8:00pm and wake up at 10:00am. We must train them to be resilient.”

He encouraged young men and women to step into leadership roles within the home and to develop the mental and emotional toughness required to face life’s challenges.

“Real men work. They provide. They go through hard times—but they don’t give up. They hold on to the vision. That’s the only way men can earn respect from women—by being problem solvers.”

Women, he noted, also have an essential role to play in building strong men. He urged them to be the backbone of their households.

“Be your husband’s support system. Help him become a real man.”

At the same time, he reminded men not to lose themselves in the weight of family responsibility. “Keep in shape. Go to the gym. Work out. Don’t walk around with a big stomach. I work out too,” he added with a touch of humour.

Finally, he stressed the importance of financial literacy in marriage, urging men to learn the discipline of managing and multiplying money.

“Make money, manage it, and multiply it through creative and innovative ways,” he concluded.