“You Can’t Marry Your Clanmate” — Mayiga Fires Back at Pastor Serwadda’s Controversial Sermon

The Prime Minister (Katikkiro) of Buganda, Charles Peter Mayiga, has openly criticized Pastor Joseph Serwadda for supporting marriage between people from the same clan.

The statement was made after a sermon by Pastor Serwadda went viral online on Wednesday, July 17, 2025.

In Buganda culture, people from the same clan are considered brothers and sisters, even if they are not directly related by blood. Marrying within the same clan is strongly forbidden and seen as a violation of traditional values.

“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 in response to the pastor’s remarks.

Pastor Joseph Serwadda, who leads Victory Christian Centre, had told his congregation that it is not wrong for Christians to marry their clanmates. He argued that the Bible only forbids people from marrying their biological siblings or cousins.

“You can marry your clanmate unless you don’t love them. In Christ, this is no taboo,” Pastor Serwadda said during his sermon.

Serwadda also added that traditional laws about clans, age gaps, and totems should not control how Christians choose their life partners.

He pointed out that Uganda’s official list of prohibited marriages does not mention clanmates. According to the pastor, “clan and totem issues are not a concern in Christian marriage.”

Mayiga strongly disagreed with this view. He said such teachings show a misunderstanding of cultural values and could mislead people, especially the youth.

“In our tradition, you cannot marry a member of your clan. That is very clear,” Mayiga emphasized.

The sermon has sparked a heated debate both online and within religious and cultural circles.

Many people are now asking whether cultural customs should be followed in the church, or if Christian beliefs can allow people to break them.

Buganda is one of the oldest and largest kingdoms in Uganda, with strong traditions that many people still follow today. The issue of clan-based marriage rules remains an important part of their identity.