As the Catholic Church continues commemorating the Uganda Martyrs, the Parish Priest of Mpigi, Deogratious Katerega Kiibi, has strongly criticized what he described as widespread promiscuity among men and a growing reluctance among young people to embrace marriage.
Delivering a sermon during the Martyrs Month celebrations, Fr. Kiibi said many men have abandoned their responsibilities in families, churches and communities, choosing instead lifestyles centred on infidelity and multiple relationships.
The priest remarked that the situation had become so concerning that Uganda Martyr Matia Mulumba would have to intercede for today's men.
“Men have become difficult to understand. Even in the Church, they are rarely seen. In schools, they hardly attend meetings, and in many workplaces women now make up the majority. One wonders where the men have gone. These days, if you want to find a man, you either look for him around a woman or where there is an opportunity for infidelity,” Fr. Kiibi said.
He questioned the increasing number of men maintaining multiple relationships, arguing that the practice has become normalized despite not being part of the religious beliefs of many who engage in it.
“In research the issue of marrying up to four wives is originated from Islamic teachings. However, even in Saudi Arabia, very few men have more than one wife. Yet here in Africa, and particularly Uganda, many men have multiple partners despite not being Muslims. Why all this promiscuity?” he asked.
Fr. Kiibi argued that a nationwide survey into the number of romantic relationships maintained by some men would reveal a worrying picture of family instability and moral decline.
“It is all about promiscuity. What exactly do men gain from it? You find a man spending an entire week moving from one home to another without settling with any family. If a survey was carried out in Uganda today, the results would be alarming. This Martyrs Month should be a time for men to seek the intercession of the Uganda Martyrs and overcome the vice of promiscuity,” he said.
The priest warned that such lifestyles often leave lasting consequences for families and children. He said men who father children with multiple partners frequently create complex family structures that can lead to disputes and fractured relationships among siblings.
"You go around marrying every woman you come across and have children with each one, ending up with a cocktail of children at home. When the father passes away, the children end up denying and rejecting their own brothers and sisters," he said.
Fr. Kiibi also turned his attention to what he described as a growing tendency among young people to postpone marriage indefinitely despite being mature and capable of establishing families.
He recounted being invited to pray for a group in Kasese known as “Singles with Hope,” joking that the name should perhaps be changed to “Singles Without Hope” because many young people appeared unwilling to commit to marriage.
“Young men and women today are refusing to marry while they are still energetic and capable of building families. Are they waiting to marry when they are old? Sometimes I officiate weddings and wonder why some people delayed for so long. At their age, they may not even live long enough to celebrate major marriage anniversaries,” he said.
According to the priest, marriage remains an important institution for both personal growth and social stability, and young people should not unnecessarily postpone it out of fear or uncertainty.
Drawing inspiration from the life of St. Matia Mulumba, Fr. Kiibi noted that the martyr himself underwent a profound personal transformation.
Before embracing Christianity, Mulumba reportedly had several wives, but after his conversion he remained with one wife and lived according to Christian teachings on marriage.
The priest said the example of St. Matia Mulumba demonstrates that change is possible and urged men struggling with promiscuity to seek guidance from the values exemplified by the Uganda Martyrs.
As Uganda continues to celebrate the faith and sacrifice of the martyrs throughout June, Fr. Kiibi called on both men and women to embrace responsibility, strengthen family life and build relationships founded on commitment, fidelity and respect.