However, Bishop Luwalira of Namirembe diocese was shocked when Musaasizi, the third-born son of Dr Kaziimba, called to tell him that he is ready to go ahead with the wedding scheduled for April 18. Surprised, Luwalira reached out to Dr Kaziimba who also confirmed the news.
That’s when the planning for this special scientific wedding started amid some anxiety on controlling the numbers as well as social distancing.
“It wasn’t easy to break the news to some people that they are not going to witness the occasion,” said Musaasizi, who is based in South Africa where he works as a pilot instructor.
“We have so many friends but going ahead with a simple wedding was more important than feasting and merrymaking.” Dr Kaziimba, too, admitted that the organizing committee had already printed out more than 1,000 invitation cards not to mention the numerous service providers that had already expressed interest.
Yet on D-day, the normally busy cathedral was virtually empty, with only a handful of people around to guide the couple and stop ‘uninvited guests’ from stepping inside. In fact, my count of guests was 18, with most of them notable public figures such as Gaster Ntakke Lule, Apollo Nelson Makubuya and Kampala businessman Edward Kiyenje with his wife.
The key factors here were social distancing and sanitizing but some people, especially the media in attendance, occassionally forgot these tenets of stopping Covid-19. Bishop Luwalira, the wedding celebrant, occasionally expressed his strangeness of the situation with humorous gestures to the couple, who seemed to enjoy every bit of the occasion.
The maid of honour had the busiest day to keep the bride’s long wedding dress intact. On the whole, social distancing rules were dully kept but that meant some traditions had to be relaxed.
For instance, even though there was Holy Communion, all communicants were let to pick the waffle and dipped it in the wine themselves. Meanwhile, there was also no traditional visit to the vestry by the couple, who fulfilled all norms at the alter before returning to their seats.
In addition, whereas it is always left to the chief celebrant to give a speech to the newlyweds after the benediction, the flow was opened for everyone to have a go because there were not going to be any speech at the reception. That’s when Nankabirwa attested that her wedding was also a scientific in the sense that there were only 30 guests.
”I wish all Ugandans can pick a leaf from this couple and avoid those big weddings that involve spending a lot to the extent of incurring debts,” she said.
Babirye’s mother also intimated that all requisite norms had been met, with a Kwanjula held days prior and that the groom’s entourage had only three people.
She also said her original busuti for the wedding is still locked up in one of the Kampala arcades. Shortly after the rigorous ceremony lasted about two-and-a-half hours, the clearly relieved newlyweds couldn’t hide their excitement.
“We met as students in Seeta High School Mukono and were not about to let Covid-19 derail the fulfilment of our promise to love each other to the aisle,” said Musaasizi.
“We would have post- poned and hold a massive wedding, but we realized that what matters at the end of the day is not the numbers but the sincerity of love for each other.”
The couple later hosted 12 people, mainly family members, at the archbishop’s residence.
mukalazid@yahoo.com