KAMPALA

THE High Court on Friday temporarily blocked a wedding planned to take place on Saturday at St Francis Chapel, Makerere University, by a couple belonging to the same clan.

The couple, whose move is allegedly supported by the would-be-bride's mother, are born-again Christians. The mother and the daughter apparently disowned the would-be bride’s father, saying that they had dreamt that they do not belong to his clan but that of Jesus Christ.

The court's Deputy Registrar (Crime), Mr Roy Byaruhanga, ordered that Ms Juliet Namazzi and Mr Ivan Serunkuma call off their wedding until the court rules on their case. The order is effective for 14 days.

The order was prompted by an application by the would-be bride's father, Mr Bruno Kiwuwa, a retired civil servant, strongly opposing the marriage of the two members of the Ndigga (Sheep) Clan.

Namazzi works for International Food Policy Research Institute in Bukoto in Kampala. We had not established details about her prospective husband by press time.

"Such a situation is unacceptable and abominable in the Buganda traditional custom and is tantamount to marrying one's relative such as a sister and brother," the young woman's father said.
Kiwuwa said that he raised the matter with Serunkuma but he was allegedly ignored.

"My family and clan are concerned about the intended marriage as both of them are from the Ndigga Clan," Kiwuwa said, adding that the clan elders had already written to the church asking it to turn away the couple.

According to court documents, Namazzi sent Kiwuwa a message three months ago saying that Jesus Christ had appeared to her in a vision and informed her that he was not her father.
She reportedly told Kiwuwa that she had thus ceased to be his daughter because she was now the daughter of Jesus Christ.
Kiwuwa says he learnt a few days ago that his daughter was planning to marry Serunkuma.

He complains that Namazzi has not made any formal introduction of her prospective husband to her family, clan or lineage as required by Ganda custom. Therefore, Kiwuwa argues, the marriage cannot take place without complying with the requirements of Ganda tradition.

"I am the biological father of Namazzi. I used to hold reunion occasions for my family and all my children, including Namazzi, attended," he said.

He says that he fathered Namazzi in his relationship with Nalongo Ndagire Binaisa whom he met in 1976 at Ntawo District Farm Institute in Mukono where she was employed as an assistant agricultural officer. As a result of the relationship they bore Namazzi on April 7, 1977.

He says that ever since the birth of his daughter he has been responsible for her welfare, for example paying for her education.
Namazzi, an agriculturalist, holds a master's degree from Norway .
Kiwuwa says that while at school the daughter maintained close contact with him and he would receive her school reports. He also says that he is the one who gave the daughter the name she is currently using.

Kiwuwa says that he tried to resolve the marriage matter with Namazzi in vain because she insisted that Jesus Christ appeared to her and that she was no longer a member of his family.
Her mother has not been of much help either, he says . Nalongo Ndagire reportedly said she and her daughter were in the family of Jesus Christ.

He says that if Namazzi and Serunkuma are not restrained, he will suffer irreparable loss as the biological father of Namazzi and even his clan and lineage will suffer shame, loss of esteem and degradation. He says his daughter's act is unlawful and contravenes moral standards.

The law only criminalizes sexual relations between blood relatives, say brothers and sisters or first cousins, which is not the case here. But this being a civil case, Kiwuwa will have simply to prove that indeed Namazzi and Serunkuma would be infringing upon established and known custom to block their planned marriage.