BY ELLY KARENZI
IN IBANDA—
Fifty four couples from Ibanda ,Nyabuhikye and Kakinga archdeaconries in Ibanda district have today tied their knots at St. Paul church of Uganda during a colorful ceremony which was presided over by the Bishop of Ankole diocese the Rt. Rev. Sheldon Mwesigwa assisted by Can. Rev. Yorokamu Atwine.
The mass wedding ceremony took two hours and thirty minutes and was witnessed by many people from different districts of Ibanda, Mbarara, Bushenyi,Kamwenge,Buhweju in a fully parked church. Women were seen dressed in wedding nets while men in suits accompanied by matrons and best men.
Ibanda church Zone has started implementing its plans of wedding all couples and Christians and confirming people who have not received holy communion as a way of strengthening and promoting church values because it is planning to become a diocese next month in August 2016. .
Addressing thousands of well wishers and Christians, the Bishop of Ankole diocese,Rt.Rev. Mwesigwa said the couples have started a new journey for their matrimony in Christianity as all of them have been dating in their history. Rt. Rev Mwesigwa said that this mass wedding ceremony was the first of kind that he has performed since he became the Bishop of Ankole in 2010.
He revealed that many couples have been dating and failed to raise millions of money to perform expensive functions for the reception. He told the people and church leaders that he will table a motion in the synod the church highest council in Ankole diocese to pass a bye law that couples who have been in marriage life should be considered to pay less church fee for their wedding ceremonies. He said that the church should not be a road block to stop them to enter the kingdom of God due to church contributions.
Mr. John Mark Katongole aged 67 years of Rwemiyega sub county in Sembabule district wedded Mrs.Federensi Tibihika who hails from Kitagwenda county in Kamwenge district and both they were the oldest people to make vows.
Others who tied the knot included Mr. and Mrs Kato Bashaija a UPDF soldier who hails from Kafunjo cell in Ibanda Municipality ,Mr. and Mrs Grace Musinguzi Kakwene, a reknown businessman,Mr and Mrs. Brian Ssozi, a coffee trader in Ibanda municipality,Mr. Frank Kyakadosi of Kyaruhanga municipality a among many. A wedding procession has paralyzed the business and transport in Ibanda town as most of them were standing in open roof vehicles.
