The Nnabagereka of Buganda, Lady Sylvia Nagginda, has challenged the Church of Uganda to treat pre-marital counselling with more seriousness, warning that rushed sessions are weakening marriages and fueling family breakdown.
Speaking at the opening of the 28th Provincial Assembly of the Church of Uganda at Uganda Christian University in Mukono on Wednesday, the Nabagereka said many couples go through counselling as a mere formality or rubber stamp for a marriage certificate.
‘When counselling is brief and exceptions are made, couples enter marriage without the knowledge and guidance they need,’ she said. ‘This is contributing to rising cases of domestic violence, divorce, substance abuse, polygamy, and an increasing number of street children.’
She called on the Church to dedicate adequate time to counselling and to organise regular seminars for married couples as part of efforts to promote stable families.
The Nnabagereka also urged the Clergy to strengthen advocacy against gender-based violence and to establish safe spaces for survivors.
On health, she supported proposals for a medical insurance scheme and a special fund to help vulnerable patients in Church-founded health facilities.
On the environment, the Nnabagereka tasked the Church to lead in tree planting, wetland protection, rainwater harvesting, climate-smart agriculture, and renewable energy.
‘Caring for creation is a biblical mandate,’ she said.
The Nnabagereka further observed that Church-founded schools should go beyond academic excellence and focus on character formation. She linked corruption and many social problems to ‘inadequate moral upbringing.’
The Archbishop of the Church of Uganda, the Most Rev. Stephen Samuel Kaziimba, said preparations for the Church’s 150th anniversary should inspire renewed commitment to evangelism and national transformation.
He credited the Kingdom of Buganda for laying the foundation for Christianity, formal education, and modern healthcare after Kabaka Muteesa I invited missionaries to Uganda in 1875.
The Archbishop noted that the Church currently oversees about 5,200 Church-founded institutions, including 630 secondary schools, 50 vocational institutions, and several universities – an achievement he attributed to the historic partnership between the Church and Buganda Kingdom.
He thanked Kabaka Ronald Muwenda Mutebi II and the Nnabagereka for their support to education, youth empowerment, healthcare, and moral formation through the Nnabagereka Foundation and Ekisakaate.
Dr David Mugawe, the Deputy Vice Chancellor for Finance and Administration at UCU, said institutions must review curricula to prepare learners for successful marriages and stable families. He said UCU is reviewing its curriculum to equip priests with practical skills to address marriage and family challenges.
Equity Bank Uganda Managing Director, Gift Shoko, said the bank is partnering with the Church to fight poverty, which he described as a major cause of GBV and family breakdown.
‘We have programmes that support parents with school fees financing and provide credit to start or expand businesses. When families have enough income to meet their basic needs, many of the challenges affecting homes can be reduced,’ he said.
The three-day assembly that started on August 4, 2026 is running under the theme: ‘Anchored in Christ for Unity, Stability and Peace.’