Preparations for the highly anticipated royal wedding between the Kyabazinga of Busoga, William Wilberforce Nadiope Gabula IV, and his Inhebantu, Jovia Mutesi, are in full swing. The First Deputy Prime Minister, Rebecca Kadaga, has officially launched the organizing committee for the event.
Earlier this month, the Kyabazinga was introduced to Mutesi’s parents in Mayuge district, marking the beginning of their traditional wedding. Dr. Joseph Muvawala, the Prime Minister of Busoga, formally announced the union and declared Mutesi as the Inebantu-to-be of Busoga.
The Prime Minister also disclosed that the couple had agreed upon a church wedding scheduled for November 18, 2023. During this ceremony, Mutesi will be officially presented as the queen of Busoga to the entire kingdom.
Since then, preparations have been in progress, and over the weekend, a 23-member committee, led by Engineer Patrick Batumbya, was unveiled. Notable members include Presidential Affairs Minister Milly Babalanda, tasked with mobilizing local governments, General Duties Minister Justine Lumumba, responsible for media, and KCCA director Dorothy Kisaka, in charge of special assignments. Additionally, Dr. Mohammed Lubega, chairman of the Uganda Moslem Supreme Council, serves as the general coordinator, working alongside David Batema, the resident judge of Iganga High Court.
During the launch, Kadaga acknowledged the receipt of Shs304 million collected from committee members, which kickstarted the fundraising efforts for the royal wedding. She also revealed the Centenary Bank account, along with Airtel Money and MTN Mobile Money merchant codes, all registered under the name “The Kyabazinga of Busoga.” These channels will facilitate contributions from well-wishers across the Busoga sub-region and worldwide.
As for the wedding budget, Busoga’s Prime Minister stated that the exact figures will be disclosed after the fundraising efforts are completed. He emphasized the importance of collecting funds before determining expenditures, saying that “collections determine the expenditure.”