President Yoweri Kaguta Museveni on Saturday attended the traditional Kuhingira (giveaway) ceremony of his granddaughter, Nsasiirwe Keinembabazi Karugire, also known as Sasii.
Sasii is the daughter of Natasha Museveni and Edwin Karugire, making her part of the First Family.
During the colorful ceremony, the President used the occasion to criticise the growing trend of expensive and multiple marriage functions in modern Ugandan society.
“Like now, we would have performed all ceremonies and the woman would have been taken the same night,” Museveni said, contrasting current practices with traditional customs in Ankole and other communities.
He argued that in the past, ceremonies such as Kuhingira and the wedding were combined into a single event, unlike today where they are split into several costly functions.
Sasii got engaged last year to the son of Sam Kavuma, a senior military figure and commander of the African Union mission in Somalia.
The ceremony, attended by family and close associates, has since drawn public attention, both for its cultural significance and the President’s remarks on evolving marriage traditions.