Buganda Kingdom has renewed its warning against the growing culture of extravagance at Kwanjula ceremonies, with Katikkiro Charles Peter Mayiga urging families to protect the cultural significance of the traditional marriage event from excessive spending, cash-spraying and disruptive entertainment.Mayiga made the remarks while attending the Kwanjula of Roberta Nalwoga and Hillary Murungi, where he said a Kwanjula should be a joyful gathering that brings families together rather than an occasion for guests to compete in displaying their wealth.
He cautioned that excessive performances and flamboyant behaviour are increasingly taking attention away from the ceremony itself.“Kwanjula is a day of happiness. We don’t want sad faces on such occasions, but we also don’t want to see people who make a nuisance of themselves with Gomesis and Kanzus flying around. Those obnoxious dancing boys, we don’t want to see them,” Mayiga said.The Katikkiro also took particular aim at the practice of throwing money at celebrants, questioning the logic of guests arriving at their in-laws’ home with bundles of cash only to scatter the money during the celebrations. “We don’t want to see people splashing money, that is backward. If you have money we shall know, even if you don’t throw it around.
A rich man is known, even if they try to hide,” he said.According to Mayiga, the practice of cash-spraying was influenced by celebrations in Nigeria, where spraying banknotes became common at weddings and other social functions. He argued that Ugandans should not blindly adopt foreign practices, particularly those that undermine the values and dignity attached to traditional ceremonies.He further pointed to measures taken in Nigeria against the abuse of its currency, noting that people caught spraying money can face legal consequences. Mayiga used the example to reinforce his argument that the practice has no place in Buganda’s traditional marriage ceremonies and should not be treated as a sign of sophistication or wealth.
Kwanjula ceremonies have over the years evolved from relatively intimate family gatherings into large-scale social events involving hundreds of guests, elaborate decorations, expensive outfits, entertainment, convoys and increasingly costly gifts. While the gomesi and kanzu remain important cultural attire, modern ceremonies have also introduced elaborate designs and accessories, alongside numerous practices that were not traditionally part of the occasion.Traditionally, Kwanjula, meaning “introduction” in Luganda, involved the groom visiting the bride’s family with a limited number of relatives and friends to formally express his intention to marry her and fulfil agreed cultural obligations. Mayiga’s latest remarks therefore form part of his wider campaign to preserve the authenticity of Buganda’s customs, after previously warning that the rising cost of traditional marriage ceremonies could make marriage unnecessarily difficult for young people.
