On August 2, 2025, St Matthew’s Cathedral in Kyamate, Ntungamo, was transformed into a vibrant and emotional setting as guests gathered for a wedding that had been years in the making.
What truly stood out beyond the ceremony itself was the identity reflected in every detail. Fish motifs were everywhere, adorning the photo booth, aisle décor, tables, the bridal platform, and even the wine bottles, creating a cohesive visual theme that tied the entire celebration together.
At the heart of it all were Amos Besigye, known as ‘Fish,’ and his bride, Pereth Nakato, who were part of one half of Ntungamo’s much-discussed twin wedding. Alongside Edward Asiimwe and Priscilla Babirye, the two couples finally marked the end of a journey that began in 2019.
A shared beginning
The story of this twin wedding began with a coincidence but grew into something far more intentional. Babirye and Nakato are twin sisters who, along with their partners Asiimwe and Besigye, were introduced and officially welcomed by their family on the same day in 2019 in Rwampara.
Both men worked for the Ntungamo District local government, and what started as two parallel love stories naturally evolved into a shared dream: a joint wedding that would celebrate their unique bond.
A ceremony was initially planned for 2020, but the Covid-19 pandemic put everything on hold. As restrictions eased, life took separate paths for the couples. Asiimwe and Babirye eventually held their wedding on December 11, 2021, while Besigye and Nakato’s celebration remained postponed but never forgotten.
A love story that started with a simple gesture
Behind the planned twin wedding lies a quieter story, one that began unexpectedly at a burial in Ibanda. Besigye had accompanied a colleague to a funeral when he noticed a young woman standing under the hot afternoon sun without a seat.
After being offered a VIP chair as a mourner, he made a simple decision: ‘I gave her my chair,’ he recalls. ‘I do not even remember where I sat afterwards; I just know I was standing.’
That small act of kindness marked the beginning of something neither of them anticipated. Later, at a bus station in Mbarara, their paths crossed again. A conversation ensued, numbers were exchanged, and a relationship gradually began to grow.
‘I was attracted by her beauty; she was attracted by my demeanour,’ Besigye says. ‘It all started with a chair.’
Years of patience
Rather than rush into marriage, the couple chose patience, shaped by ambition, planning, and personal growth. After their introduction in 2019 and the disruption of Covid-19, they focused on building stability.
‘We sat down and made priorities,’ Besigye says. ‘We wanted jobs, we wanted to build a home, and we wanted to plan properly.’
Nakato, a midwife, says the waiting period strengthened their understanding of marriage.
‘Even during premarital counselling, I realised there was still so much to learn,’ she says. ‘It helped us a lot.’
By the time preparations resumed, Besigye had become a well-known figure in Ntungamo’s local government circles, both as a welfare chairperson and events organiser.
A wedding launch held in June drew more than 400 people, kicking off a remarkable community-driven mobilisation. An initial budget of Shs80m was later revised to Shs100m, with about Shs50m raised in cash and pledges at the launch alone.
From there, the celebration became a collective effort, with residents and planners working side by side to bring the vision to life. The organising committee was chaired by Joshua Namanya.
‘We had people who genuinely wanted to organise,’ Besigye says. ‘It became something bigger than just a wedding.’
Celebration that made a splash
If the love story was remarkable, the wedding’s visual identity was truly unforgettable. Besigye’s nickname, ‘Fish,’ earned from his work as a fisheries officer, served as the creative theme for the entire celebration. Fish motifs were woven into various décor elements, and guests enjoyed fish dishes as part of the catering. ‘That is passion,’ Besigye says. ‘It became a natural part of the celebration.’
A black-and-white colour scheme added elegance, while music, performances, and a lively reception at Home to Home Hotel in Kyahweire kept guests entertained well into the evening. A convoy of more than 100 cars escorted the entourage from the church to the reception, turning the celebration into a grand spectacle as it moved across Ntungamo.
As the festivities drew to a close, what remained was more than a wedding. It was a story of timing, patience, and community spirit coming together in one defining moment.
From a seat offered at a burial, to a chance meeting at a bus stage, to years of waiting and eventual celebration, the journey of Besigye and Nakato reflects a simple truth: love often unfolds slowly, shaped as much by circumstance as by choice.
In Ntungamo, it ended as it began; unusual, memorable, and anchored by a symbol that followed them all the way to the altar: Fish.
A few imperfections
Despite the grandeur of the day, there were minor challenges along the way. Some speeches ran longer than expected, and a smoke machine failed to operate as planned. Yet, these small hiccups were overshadowed by the scale of the celebration and the presence of friends and family who travelled from far and wide.
‘The excitement of seeing everyone come together made it all worth it,’ said Priscilla Babirye. Her sister, Nakato, shares a valuable lesson they learnt during the wedding planning process. ‘I would advise couples to plan together and truly understand each other before the wedding,’ she says. ‘It makes everything more meaningful.’