Ugandan Minister Summons Singer Over Children’s Involvement in Wedding Controversy
KAMPALA – The State Minister for Youth and Children Affairs, Balaam Barugahara, has formally summoned singer Chosen Becky, real name Rebecca Kukiriza, to answer allegations of misusing children during a private wedding ceremony earlier this week.
The Ministry of Gender, Labour and Social Development issued the summons on Tuesday, 17th December 2025, requiring the artist to appear at its offices on Tuesday, 23rd December 2025.
The Allegations
According to an official statement from the Ministry, the summons follows “widely circulated images and reports arising from a wedding ceremony held Monday 15th December.” The incident allegedly involved “the use of children to carry placards bearing messages that appear to target adults in a manner likely to expose the children to emotional harm, public controversy, and online exploitation.”
While acknowledging the right to privacy and freedom of expression, the Ministry emphasized that “children must never be used as instruments in adult disputes, publicity stunts, or social media controversies.”
Legal Concerns
The Ministry outlined several potential legal violations, citing:
· The Children Act, Cap. 59: Which mandates that the best interests of the child are paramount and protects children from emotional abuse, neglect, exploitation, and harmful publicity.
· The Data Protection and Privacy Act, 2019: Which restricts the publication of children’s personal data and images, especially where it may cause harm.
“The publication and circulation of images of children in controversial circumstances, particularly on social media platforms, may constitute a violation of these laws,” the statement read.
Demands on the Singer
At the scheduled meeting, Ms. Chosen Becky is required to:
- Formally withdraw the alleged actions involving the children.
- Issue a public apology, acknowledging that children should not be involved in adult disagreements.
- Provide a written commitment never to involve children in her personal, marital, or social disputes, both offline and online.
- Immediately delete and cause the removal of all related social media posts, images, or videos involving the children.
A Broader Warning
Minister Barugahara issued a stern warning to all public figures, artists, influencers, and socialites:
“Children’s rights are protected by law. Social media popularity, celebrity status, or personal circumstances do not exempt anyone from complying with child protection laws. The Ministry will not hesitate to take appropriate legal and administrative action against any individual found misusing children for publicity or content that undermines their welfare.”
The statement concluded by reaffirming the Government of Uganda’s commitment to “upholding the rights, safety, dignity, and best interests of every child.”
Authorities have indicated that the incident raises serious questions about protecting children from online exploitation and harmful publicity.
About The Author
