President Yoweri Museveni has vowed to guard against the marriage and family institutions from negative and foreign influence whose main objective according to him, is to destroy our societies.
“Any practice that undermines the survival of the family institution must be resisted and defeated,” Mr. Museveni said urging the young to embrace marriage and build strong families to guarantee the prosperity and survival of society.
The President made the remarks in a speech read for him by Vice President Jessica Alupo during the wedding ceremony of the Director General of Internal security Organisation (ISO) Col. Charles Oluka and Harriet Akisa today at St. Patrick’s Catholic Church, Madera in Soroti district.
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The main celebrant was Rt. Rev. Dominic Eibu, the Bishop of Diocese assisted by Rt. Rev. Santus Lino Wanok the Bishop of lira Diocese.
The President stressed that society cannot perpetuate itself without strong and stable families. “Society norms, values and customs of a society are learned from home. It is on this account that we should guard the marriage and family institutions from negative and foreign practices whose primary objective is to destroy our society,” Museveni said.
He explained that marriage institution serves two unique functions in society; to create unity by cementing the relationship between the relatives of the groom and those of the bride, but also, marriage is like a bridge as it connects people from different backgrounds, he added.
Secondly the President said, marriage is important for the purpose of pro-creation and nurturance of life. The President also marriage is the foundation of the home, where children are nurtured to become responsible and productive members of society. “strong marriages produce strong and prosperous families. Therefore, the union of a man and a woman is important because it creates the foundation on which society is built,” the president noted.
He encouraged the bride and groom to anchor their marriage on love and good communication but above all- God as the author of their marriage.
Museveni told the congregation that God’s will is that they prosper as a couple and remain united and strong at all time. He offered the couple a gift of Sh10m.
In her words, Vice President Jessica Alupo congratulated the couple upon taking their bold decision to enter into Holly matrimony and described Col. Oluka as an obedient and humble son of Teso.
“We know you as a very humble person but very effective in every assignment you are given to handle,” Alupo said. She thanked Harriet Akisa for standing by her husband all the time.
The Vice President told the congregation that the couple had showed them the right path to follow by embracing holy matrimony adding that this was a good example to Christians.
The vice president also guided that christians should take advantage of the rains to cultivate both food and crops for sale.
In his sermon, Rt. Rev. Santus Lino Wanok told Col. Oluka and wife that the vows they had just made were not contract but rather a covenant.
He noted that marriage is a lifelong union and a covenant which is intended by God for happiness, not sadness and urged them to love each other.
“Christian marriage is one between man and woman and not between man and man or woman and woman. It is a formally recognized union of two people between a man and woman and for that case-male and female,” Wanok said, drawing cheers from the congregation.
He also asked the congregation to reconcile with God to end social injustices.
The service was attended by among others, the Minister for security Maj. Gen. Jim Muhwezi, the Deputy chief of defence forces Gen. Peter Elweru, Ministers, Members of Parliament, the business community and several senior officers in government and the UPDF.
The Emorimori of Teso Mr.Paul Sande Emolot and his wife were also in attendance.