Benon Mugumbya Questions Ugandan Wedding Extravagance After Attending a Simple UK Ceremony

Celebrated music producer and Swangz Avenue co-founder Benon Mugumbya is sparking conversation online after expressing his concerns about the ever-growing extravagance of Ugandan weddings. Fresh from attending a friend’s wedding in the United Kingdom, Benon took to Instagram to reflect on the simplicity and beauty of the ceremony — something that left him both impressed and puzzled. > “We attended a friend’s beautiful, simple wedding yesterday, and we all kept on asking ourselves why we complicate things back home?” he posted. According to Benon, the UK wedding had no excessive decorations, no long speeches, no grand high table for the bride and groom (locally known as abagole) — yet it was still magical, heartfelt, and memorable. > “No 100 million decoration, no long speeches, no high table for the bagole… I could go on and on,” he added. His reflection has stirred up debate among Ugandans, many of whom feel pressured to impress society, family, and friends when planning weddings — often at the cost of their own financial stability. Benon believes that this obsession with lavish ceremonies might actually be setting up young couples for failure. > “Ug weddings are extravagant, which most times kickstarts a financial strain on the marriage. Is it family pressure that pushes us to spend what we don’t have? Maybe… and I’m speaking from a naive point of view — please make it make sense,” he questioned. His message, though honest and gentle, shines a light on a harsh reality. Many couples in Uganda take loans, drain savings, or rely heavily on fundraising just to hold a wedding that fits into societal expectations. And once the party ends, they're left to face the harsh realities of married life with empty pockets and mounting pressure.