By
Julius Hafashimana
Residents of Rushereshere village in Gasovu Parish, Nyabwishenya Sub-county, Kisoro District were left in shock and disbelief on Saturday after a man dramatically called off his wedding at the very last moment.
Alex Nsabiyunva, a man in his 40s, had been traditionally married to Robina Mfitundinda, also in her 40s, for over a decade. The couple had planned to formalize their union with a church wedding at Rutaka Church of Uganda in Kirundo Sub-county. All arrangements had been made, and the stage was set for a joyful celebration.
According to eyewitnesses, everything appeared to be going according to plan. The bride and her entourage had undergone hair and makeup preparations and arrived at the church ready for the ceremony. However, the groom was nowhere to be seen.
As guests waited in anticipation, a bombshell message arrived from Nsabiyunva: he had changed his mind and was no longer going through with the wedding. In his message, Nsabiyunva claimed the decision was a form of punishment for Mfitundinda, whom he accused of harassment. He alleged that she was responsible for his imprisonment last year, when he served six months in Kisoro Government Prison following a dispute over family land.
The cancellation sent shockwaves through the village. Guests were left confused and disappointed, with food and drinks prepared for the reception left untouched. “I was hired to handle photography for both the ceremony and reception,” said Manuel Maniriho, a local photographer. “Now I’ve lost a potential profit of 70,000 shillings.”
Januario Twahirwa, a local DJ, expressed similar frustration. “I had been booked for 150,000 shillings to provide music at the event. But I was told to stop playing because the wedding was off. I don’t even know who to turn to for payment.”
Village elder Apollo Mwunvaneza described the incident as deeply embarrassing and called for mutual respect in marriages to avoid such dramatic outcomes. “This should serve as a lesson, especially for women, to remember that men are the heads of families and deserve respect,” Mwunvaneza said. The spectacle has become the talk of the village, sparking debates about love, power, and revenge in relationships.