Pastor’s wedding stopped at altar
Apr 26, 2010
A church wedding of a prominent born-again pastor in Mukono district ended prematurely on Saturday after a woman turned up with photos showing that she was married to the groom.
By John Semakula
and Henry Nsubuga
A church wedding of a prominent born-again pastor in Mukono district ended prematurely on Saturday after a woman turned up with photos showing that she was married to the groom.
Grace Nakasi, 32, stunned the congregation when she walked to the altar and handed to the presiding minister what she described as photos of her wedding to Pastor Fred Katumba.
Katumba heads Gospel Life Worship Centre Church in Jjoggo in Goma sub-county. Pastor Samuel Lwandasa was presiding over the ceremony, which should have taken place at Mt. Lebanon Church in Mukono Town Council.
Pastor Katumba, 36, was wedding Robinah Sanyu, 26. The lovebirds were about to arrive at the church to exchange marital vows at the ceremony, slated for the afternoon, when Nakasi showed up.
Nakasi, a resident of Nalukolongo in Kampala, looked weary. She entered the Church at about 3:00pm during the introductory prayers as the congregation waited for the lovers to arrive.
She told Pastor Lwandasa and the congregation that she was married to Katumba in 1994 and they have three children. “We got married in a born-again church in Kasawo sub-county in Mukono district. Pastor Apollo Kabaale presided over the wedding,†she said.
The woman named their children as John Sekanjako, 13, Joanita Namugerwa, 11, and Jane Nantongo, 9.
Nakasi said she separated with Katumba in 2005 because he had an affair with another girl in his church. “It was not a divorce. He is still my husband and I ask you to cancel the wedding,†Nakasi told a puzzled Lwandasa.
In the meantime, murmuring filled the church. Pastor Lwandasa excused himself, walked out of the Church and made a call on his mobile phone. He re-appeared in the Church and announced the wedding had been cancelled.
The puzzled congregation walked out of the Church, stood in small groups discussing the issue and then went away.
In an interview with The New Vision, Lwandasa said he contacted the bride and the groom and informed them of the development and they agreed to cancel the wedding. “I could not go on with the wedding after receiving information that one of the two parties to wed was committed to someone else,†he said.
Before going to the Church, Nakasi first went to Mukono Police Station and reported the matter.
“I was given an introduction letter at the Police which I went with to the Church and it made my work easy because when I presented it, everyone listened to me,†she said.
Mukono district Police commander Aliphonsi Musoni confirmed Nakasi had been cleared at the station.
Meanwhile, the bride and the groom appeared at the reception at Seeta Boarding Primary School in their wedding gowns and a marriage certificate, to the delight of enthusiastic relatives and friends.
The certificate showed they were married at New Life Christ Ministries in Kampala, presided over by the Rev. Rogers Tashobya.
Exactly two years ago, on April 26, 2008, a couple who were to exchange marriage vows at All Saints Church, were sent away after the man’s jilted lover blocked the wedding through a court order. Bosco Gitta Kasirye was set to wed Jane Nakubulwa but the ceremony was blocked by Ruth Namirembe.
and Henry Nsubuga
A church wedding of a prominent born-again pastor in Mukono district ended prematurely on Saturday after a woman turned up with photos showing that she was married to the groom.
Grace Nakasi, 32, stunned the congregation when she walked to the altar and handed to the presiding minister what she described as photos of her wedding to Pastor Fred Katumba.
Katumba heads Gospel Life Worship Centre Church in Jjoggo in Goma sub-county. Pastor Samuel Lwandasa was presiding over the ceremony, which should have taken place at Mt. Lebanon Church in Mukono Town Council.
Pastor Katumba, 36, was wedding Robinah Sanyu, 26. The lovebirds were about to arrive at the church to exchange marital vows at the ceremony, slated for the afternoon, when Nakasi showed up.
Nakasi, a resident of Nalukolongo in Kampala, looked weary. She entered the Church at about 3:00pm during the introductory prayers as the congregation waited for the lovers to arrive.
She told Pastor Lwandasa and the congregation that she was married to Katumba in 1994 and they have three children. “We got married in a born-again church in Kasawo sub-county in Mukono district. Pastor Apollo Kabaale presided over the wedding,†she said.
The woman named their children as John Sekanjako, 13, Joanita Namugerwa, 11, and Jane Nantongo, 9.
Nakasi said she separated with Katumba in 2005 because he had an affair with another girl in his church. “It was not a divorce. He is still my husband and I ask you to cancel the wedding,†Nakasi told a puzzled Lwandasa.
In the meantime, murmuring filled the church. Pastor Lwandasa excused himself, walked out of the Church and made a call on his mobile phone. He re-appeared in the Church and announced the wedding had been cancelled.
The puzzled congregation walked out of the Church, stood in small groups discussing the issue and then went away.
In an interview with The New Vision, Lwandasa said he contacted the bride and the groom and informed them of the development and they agreed to cancel the wedding. “I could not go on with the wedding after receiving information that one of the two parties to wed was committed to someone else,†he said.
Before going to the Church, Nakasi first went to Mukono Police Station and reported the matter.
“I was given an introduction letter at the Police which I went with to the Church and it made my work easy because when I presented it, everyone listened to me,†she said.
Mukono district Police commander Aliphonsi Musoni confirmed Nakasi had been cleared at the station.
Meanwhile, the bride and the groom appeared at the reception at Seeta Boarding Primary School in their wedding gowns and a marriage certificate, to the delight of enthusiastic relatives and friends.
The certificate showed they were married at New Life Christ Ministries in Kampala, presided over by the Rev. Rogers Tashobya.
Exactly two years ago, on April 26, 2008, a couple who were to exchange marriage vows at All Saints Church, were sent away after the man’s jilted lover blocked the wedding through a court order. Bosco Gitta Kasirye was set to wed Jane Nakubulwa but the ceremony was blocked by Ruth Namirembe.