President Yoweri Museveni has urged Ugandans to ignore controversial teachings by Pastor Joseph Sserwada, warning that some of his recent statements go against both African culture and scientific understanding.
While preaching to his congregation recently, Pastor Sserwada caused a public uproar after saying that it is acceptable for people to marry or have sexual relationships with their clanmates, claiming the Bible does not forbid such relationships. According to him, as long as the couple is in love, their shared clan should not be an issue.
However, President Museveni, while speaking at a function in Mengo, firmly disagreed with the pastor’s teachings. He emphasized that marrying within the same clan is not only culturally wrong but also genetically dangerous.
“Human genetics is important, and it is part of our strength as a people. But that genetics is partly due to and rooted in our traditions,” the President said.
“You are not allowed to marry somebody from your clan. You must cross and look into other clans. This is not just culture and tradition, but it is also biology and science, because when you marry people from your clan, you can produce children with defects. That inbreeding is what we call ‘Obutembane’ in Ankole,” he explained.
The President’s remarks were backed by Katikkiro Charles Peter Mayiga, the Prime Minister of Buganda Kingdom, who also recently criticized Pastor Sserwada’s comments. Mayiga urged religious leaders to preach responsibly and respect cultural values, especially when addressing sensitive topics like marriage.
Both leaders encouraged Ugandans to uphold traditional practices that promote healthy families and social harmony, cautioning against teachings that could mislead the public or cause cultural confusion.
