Bishop Banja decries lavish weddings, urges simpler unions

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The Anglican Bishop of Namirembe Diocese, the Rt. Rev. Moses Banja has expressed concern over the growing trend of lavish weddings, which he said has discouraged many Christians who would otherwise have liked their marriages blessed in church. 

The prelate also criticised Christians who choose to hold expensive weddings without adequate means, leaving themselves in long-term financial difficulty.

“We have seen incredibly lavish weddings at this cathedral. Some people come with very expensive vehicles. Some people even decide to hire a ferry and go to the islands for their celebration. They have the money. But such expensive weddings also intimidate our Christians who are not affluent. They maintain an illegitimate marriage instead of coming to church to have it blessed,” Banja said.

He was addressing a press conference at St Paul’s Cathedral, Namirembe, in Rubaga division, on September 10, 2025. The briefing focused on the mass wedding celebration, which will take place at the cathedral on September 19, 2025.

Bishop Banja said Namirembe Diocese was deeply concerned that many of its members were in illicit marriages because of the fear of wedding costs, and that this was the reason for organising the forthcoming mass wedding.

“We are aware that many of our people, especially those in the remote parishes, including the islands, cannot afford to organise even a simple wedding. They have the desire but not the means. So, they remain there, in illicit marital unions. We have registered over 50 couples that we are going to wed. The diocese has paid for almost all the expenses; the wedding gowns, suits, wedding cakes, luncheon with their family members and friends, etc. Our intention is to help our willing Christians to solemnise their marriage. But it is also a means of giving back to our people,” Banja said.

After the wedding service, which will begin at 10:00 am, Banja said the newlywed couples will be served lunch with their relatives and friends.

During the same press briefing, the diocesan secretary for mission and evangelism, the Rev. Stephen Lumu Lwasi, announced the long-awaited Namirembe Diocesan Convention, which will also take place on September 21, 2025.

Both the mass wedding celebration and the Gospel Convention will run under the theme: Surely, God does not reject a blameless man or strengthen the hands of evil doers (Job 8:20).

The conference was also attended by the diocesan secretary, Rev. Canon Henry Ssegawa, the Assistant Vicar of Namirembe Cathedral, Rev. Joseph Luvumu, the trustee of Sanyu Babies’ Home, Rev. Daniel Sserumbawo, the diocesan in-charge of training, Rev. Abraham Lubega Kisaakye, and the diocesan President of the Fathers’ Union, Grace Paul Naigambi. 

All commended the forthcoming mass wedding function.