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 BUSOGA ROYAL WEDDING 

The long-awaited Busoga royal wedding is less than 48 hours away and the stage is being readied for an event not witnessed in Busoga for 69 years.

Many have the date November 18 clearly marked on their calendars.

And even long after the king of Busoga (Kyabazinga), William Gabula Nadiope IV, and his beloved fiancée Jovia Mutesi walk down the aisle, fond memories will linger on.

This Saturday, invited guests who will appear for the royal wedding in Jinja city have been advised to wear elegant Busoga traditional attire that suits the big occasion.

The gents are expected to wear a white tunic (kanzu) with a suit coat.

The ladies are to wear the gomesi, a colorful floor-length dress with a square neckline and short, puffed sleeves. The dress is tied with a long sash below the waist and over the hips. It has two buttons on the left side of the neckline. 

Most gomesis are made of silk, cotton, or linen fabric, with silk being the most expensive.

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The gomesi has a square neckline and short, puffed sleeves

In Busoga culture, women and men wear the gomesi and kanzu for ceremonies, including traditional marriages (introductions) and weddings to honour the importance of the occasion.

The Busoga royal wedding will be no exception.

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A coat is worn over a tunic (kanzu)

'No skimpy dresses'

On Tuesday, New Vision talked to some Busoga Kingdom officials and leaders who gave their views on the dress code expected at this Saturday's wedding and at the reception after the church proceedings. 

Joan Machora Kitto, the kingdom's foreign affairs minister, said the ladies should be respectable in their dressing — right from head to toe.

Her advice: wear a well-designed gomesi with a necklace and high-heeled closed shoes to bring out your beauty, to be complemented with simple make-up.

After the church formalities, guests will head for the reception at Igenge Palace.

Here, the men are expected to wear a black tuxedo with a black bow tie. Their female counterparts should go for a long elegant party or evening dress, said Machora.

“This wedding is historical, so I do not expect any woman to dress skimpily while coming to the cathedral [Christ's Church Cathedral]."

Edward Munaaba, the monarchy's general duties minister in the Office of the Prime Minister, agreed with Machora on the dress code.

He said that after the wedding ceremony at the cathedral, people may change their clothing and wear a suit plus a bow tie for the case of men and an evening dress for the case of women.

The guests that will be coming from the diaspora have been advised to don kanzus and gomesis too.