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What message has Hon. Betty Nambooze sent to Betty Nakibuuka?
Kampala, Uganda – Member of Parliament Betty Nambooze has called on gospel singer Betty Nakibuuka, mother of gospel artist Baby Gloria, to uphold sensitivity and privacy regarding her daughter’s virginity and cultural customs, especially in light of the recent Kwanjula and the upcoming wedding.
What did Betty Nakibuuka say about the virginity of Baby Gloria?
Reports confirm that the Kwanjula took place on Friday, August 22, 2025. During the ceremony, attendees gathered to celebrate the couple’s formal introduction, and Baby Gloria’s mother proudly declared that her daughter would be walking down the aisle as a virgin, sharing that:
“Gloria is a virgin. I told her I wanted her to get married like how I did. I got married when I was a virgin, and I tell all my girls to follow the same.”
“Even if you messed along the way with someone, I believe God can make you pure again.”
At the Kwanjula event, Baby Gloria and her fiancé also announced their wedding date, set for October 3, 2025.
The Facebook Message in Full
In a post shared via Facebook, MP Nambooze addressed Betty Nakibuuka directly:
“Dear Maama Gloria, I am writing to express concern about your recent behavior surrounding your daughter Gloria’s engagement and upcoming marriage. While it’s natural to be excited about this new chapter in her life, your actions seem to be crossing boundaries of privacy and cultural sensitivity.
As a public figure, your words and actions have an impact on your audience. However, it’s essential to respect the privacy of your daughter and her fiancé, especially during this significant period in their lives. Sharing intimate details about their relationship, marriage plans, and gifts received may be exciting for you, but it’s not necessarily appropriate for public consumption.”
Nambooze argued that Nakibuuka’s comments about her daughter’s virginity, and her interpretation of the goat given during the Kwanjula, had been misleading and inconsistent with Buganda cultural traditions.
“Moreover, your interpretation and application of Buganda culture seem inconsistent. While you initially declared that you wouldn’t respect certain cultural practices as a born-again Christian, you later erroneously attached cultural significance to the goat brought by Mr. Mbaleke, to symbolize your daughter’s virginity. However, it’s worth noting that in the context of Buganda traditions, the practice of delivering a goat to signify virginity is not what you described,” she explained.
Buganda Traditions Clarified
According to Nambooze, in Buganda culture, the paternal aunt is responsible for verifying a bride’s virginity, typically communicated discreetly with no public display. The goat delivered by the aunt is a private family gesture, not a trophy:
“On the morning after the couple’s first night together, the husband informs the aunt if the bride was found to be a virgin, and it’s the aunt who delivers a goat to celebrate this occasion. This is a private family matter, not a public declaration or celebration with neighbors. The goat is not a trophy to showcase, especially since the focus is on respecting the marriage and the individuals involved, regardless of the outcome.”
She further pointed out that a goat may also represent a fine for Amawemuukiraano, signifying the bride is not a virgin—a gesture of regret, not celebratory pride:
“Furthermore, in the context of Kwanjula, a goat is often brought as a fine for ‘Amawemuukiraano,’ which implies that the couple has had premarital relations or the bride is not a virgin. This gesture is not a celebration of virtue but rather an acknowledgment of a mistake and a sign of regret.”
Biblical Perspective
Nambooze also appealed to her Christian faith to illustrate the importance of discretion when handling sensitive family matters. She cited the example of Joseph in the Bible, who chose to protect Mary from public shame after learning of her pregnancy.
“As a Christian, you might find guidance in the Bible on handling sensitive matters with discretion. For instance, Joseph, Mary’s husband, is described as a righteous man who chose to divorce Mary quietly after learning she was pregnant, to avoid exposing her to public shame (Matthew 1:19–25). This example highlights the importance of handling personal matters with care and respect for those involved.”
A Call for Reflection
She concluded by urging Nakibuuka to think carefully about the consequences of publicizing private matters:
“It’s essential to understand and respect the cultural nuances of the Buganda traditions and the privacy of your daughter and her fiancé. You can celebrate your daughter’s happiness without compromising her privacy or distorting cultural practices for the sake of publicity.
I urge you to reflect on your actions and consider the impact they may have on your daughter, her fiancé, and your audience.”
The letter was signed off sincerely as: “Bakireke Nambooze Betty.”
How excitement led to subtle obscenity
Baby Gloria, whose real name is Gloria Mulungi Senyonjo, held her Kwanjula on August 22, 2025, followed by an announcement of the wedding date on October 3, 2025. Her mother, Betty Nakibuuka, has been widely quoted expressing pride in her daughter’s decision to remain a virgin until marriage—an angle that MP Nambooze believes crosses the boundary between private joy and public spectacle.
MP Nambooze’s comments serve as a reminder that in Buganda culture, matters such as virginity and the symbolism of marriage gifts are traditionally handled quietly within the family, and not placed in the public domain.
Who is Baby Gloria?
Baby Gloria—born Gloria Mulungi Senyonjo on October 28, 2001—is a remarkable talent whose journey began long before this wedding season. She is the daughter of gospel music legend Betty Nakibuuka, and from around age two or three, Baby Gloria’s singing voice already began to turn heads. She made her debut with songs like Mummy and Sisobola Kukyawa as early as 2005, broadcasting her innocent yet powerful melodies across radio and TV platforms that many of us watched—especially WBS TV, where her childlike charm first captivated families across Uganda. As she stepped into adolescence, she held her first solo concert at Apollo Kaggwa Primary School, raising funds for underserved children in Luzira, followed by another performance at the Uganda National Museum when she was just 14. Along the way, she became a skilled guitarist, dancer, philanthropist through her nonprofit Gloria Hearts, and a trusted brand ambassador. Much like American audiences watched Justin Bieber mature from YouTube sensation to global megastar, Ugandans have witnessed Baby Gloria grow—literally and artistically—from a tiny, angelic child performer into a confident young adult about to embrace marriage.
