Not everyone can afford a traditional Ugandan wedding. After calculating the bride price and the reception, a wedding quickly becomes expensive. So expensive that it took Andereya Madoni 29 years to make his common-law marriage legal. Madoni was one of 39 couples that marched down the aisle of the Kireka Hill Seventh-day Adventist church in Kampala, Uganda on Sunday, November 26.

The couples, all Adventists, had for the most part been living together for many years. But because of rampant poverty and the inability to raise money for the dowry and to pay for a wedding, they were not able to get married until recently.

The marriages were made possible by Prime Radio,  an Adventist radio station in Central Uganda that focuses heavily on providing community services. A traditional Ugandan wedding would cost a couple about $1,800. Through a Prime Radio promotion each couple was required to contribute only $35. The rest of the services were catered for using donations and contributions from companies run by lay Adventists like the Tina International School of Beauty. Other contributors included Movit beauty products and well-wishers who donated money, vehicles and other resources.

“Since I became an Adventist, I have been blessed by the fellowship of church members who have supported us materially, financially and spiritually even in regard to the wedding. I thank church institutions like Prime Radio for mobilizing the church in support of activities that benefit all members,” said Madoni.

The multiple wedding, set to start at 10:00 a.m., was disrupted by heavy rains lasting from 3:00 a.m. to almost 2:30 in the afternoon. This, however, did not stop the ceremony from proceeding. Attendees noted that church members were voluntarily providing all that they could to ensure the bridal entourages’ comfort. 

Pastor James Kaggya, president of the Adventist church in Central Uganda, led the service, assisted by a team of 15 ministers. After the church service, all the couples and their guests proceeded to a grand reception in an open-air site at Nambole National Stadium.

At first, Kivumbi Ivan and Nakityo Rose were skeptical of having a mass wedding, but they agreed to go forward because, “this was a rare opportunity where people would just volunteer to do a wedding for you.”

The two had been together for 10 years. Ivan explained that he also went through with the wedding because “I used to be a very active youth in my church but for 10 years now, I could not have a chance to serve in church.”

Out of the 75 couples registered, only 39 successfully married. Some could not finalize the bride price with their parents. Others dropped out, thinking the plan would not work out.

“This is one-of-a-kind in the history of Prime Radio but also for the Adventist church in Uganda where a radio station has worked out a promotion together with family life officers at the local churches to encourage church members who are co-habiting to legalize their marriage,” said Prime Radio manager, Moses Malege. “Our goal is to speak a message of hope in Jesus Christ and to encourage Christians to live the gospel we preach.”