Wedding Turns Into Chaos as Organizers Deny Food, Chase Guests at Reception Over Unpaid Bills in Mbarara

A wedding reception in Mbarara came to an abrupt halt on Saturday after service providers locked down the venue over unpaid bills, leaving guests with no food, no music, and nowhere to sit.

Family and friends who had gathered at Asamar County Resort to celebrate Raymond Nyakojo, from Nyakasenyi in Bihanda, and his new wife Maxencia Namanya found the reception tents sealed off with tape when they arrived. Chairs stood empty, decorations remained untouched, and photography crews waited with nothing to shoot.

The decoration team and other service providers had stopped all operations after the outstanding balance grew too large and they saw no realistic chance of getting paid. One of the organisers said they had asked for at least half the pending amount before allowing the event to proceed, but the couple could not meet that demand.

The couple had earlier exchanged vows at Nyamitanga Cathedral in front of a packed congregation, with guests looking forward to the celebrations that followed. By the time the newlyweds arrived at the resort later in the afternoon, the standoff was already in full effect.

Guests milled around the sealed-off area in disbelief. Some stood in silence, others whispered among themselves, all waiting for a resolution that never came. No food or refreshments were served and the music never started.

Videos from the venue spread rapidly across social media, drawing widespread shock from Ugandans who watched what should have been a joyful occasion fall apart in real time.

As of Tuesday, neither the couple nor their family had publicly addressed the unpaid bills or the shutdown. The matter remains unresolved.