Ugandan singer Joshua Baraka has spoken out on the decision to prohibit video recording during the burial of his father, saying he wanted to preserve the family's privacy during one of their most difficult moments.
The revelation comes a day after the burial of his father, Pastor Lawrence Okello who passed away on June 7, 2026, at the age of 57.
A requiem service was held on Monday, June 8, at the Kamwokya Church of God in Kampala before family, friends and members of the church gathered for his burial on Tuesday, June 9, at the family home in Bugolole, Kitimbwa, Kayunga District.
In a Wednesday post shared on X, the singer revealed that the thought of seeing footage of his father's casket circulating online was something he could not bear.
“I couldn’t stand the thought of scrolling the internet and seeing my father’s casket in the grave. That’s why no videos were allowed at the burial," Baraka said.
The 25-year-old singer added, "You can spin it how you want. God will forgive you for the things you do for clout.”
Baraka's comments reignite debate about the growing culture of recording and sharing content from funerals and burials on social media.
In recent years, it has become common for Ugandan mourners to livestream funeral proceedings, record emotional moments and share clips online, often attracting thousands of views across platforms.
Supporters of the practice argue that digital content allows relatives and friends who cannot travel to participate in funeral ceremonies remotely. They also say recordings help preserve memories and document the lives of the deceased.
Critics, however, contend that the trend has increasingly turned private family moments into public content, sometimes prioritising social media engagement over respect for grieving families.
Others argue that cameras can intrude on intimate moments and place unnecessary attention on mourners during periods of loss.
Baraka's decision to ban videos at his father's burial appears to have been motivated by those concerns, with the singer suggesting that some people attend such events more interested in creating content than respecting the solemnity of the occasion.
The 'Wrong Places' singer has received messages of support from fans and fellow entertainers since the passing of his father, with many backing the family's decision to keep the burial away from cameras.