“How Can You Marry Your Clanmate? I Used To Think He Was Someone Intelligent” Katikkiro Mayiga Fires Back at Pastor Serwadda’s Controversial Sermon

A heated national debate has erupted in Uganda following comments by Pastor Joseph Serwadda that challenge longstanding cultural norms in Buganda Kingdom. The controversy began on Wednesday, July 17, 2025, when a video of the senior pastor of Victory Christian Centre delivering a sermon went viral.

In the video, Pastor Serwadda argued that Christians should be free to marry members of their own clan, provided they are not biological siblings or close relatives. “You can marry your clanmate unless you don’t love them. In Christ, this is no taboo,” he said. He further stated that Christian marriage should not be bound by traditional restrictions, such as clan affiliation, age differences, or totems, noting that Uganda’s legal list of prohibited marriages does not include clanmates.

These remarks sparked outrage—especially within the Buganda Kingdom, where clan identity is a central pillar of cultural heritage. In Buganda tradition, clan members are considered brothers and sisters, regardless of direct blood ties, making intra-clan marriage a cultural taboo and a serious violation of custom.

Buganda’s Prime Minister (Katikkiro), Charles Peter Mayiga, responded with firm disapproval. “I just heard a pastor saying that the Bible doesn’t stop people from marrying their sisters. I was shocked because I used to respect him,” Mayiga said. He emphasized that such teachings could mislead young people and weaken the cultural values that bind communities together. “In our tradition, you cannot marry a member of your clan. That is very clear,” he declared.

The clash has stirred a broader national conversation about the balance between religious freedom and cultural tradition. While some Ugandans support Pastor Serwadda’s stance—arguing that faith should take precedence over culture—many others side with Katikkiro Mayiga, insisting that traditional values, especially in culturally rich societies like Buganda, must be preserved.

The timing of the controversy is especially significant, as Uganda approaches a season of cultural events, church gatherings, and political campaigns. With Buganda being one of the most influential traditional institutions in the country, the dispute raises critical questions: Should religion override cultural norms? Or is there room for coexistence and mutual respect between the two?

As public opinion remains sharply divided, the debate is expected to continue dominating headlines and conversations across Uganda in the weeks ahead.