Apostle Grace Lubega the Lead Pastor of Phaneroo Ministries is facing a countrywide backlash after suggesting traditional Buganda names are linked to “spirits of misfortune and death.” His comments, made during a sermon, have sparked debate on social media about the clash between religious beliefs and cultural identity in Uganda.
Apostle Grace Lubega specifically called out names like “Ndawula” and “Nandawula,” claiming they invite sickness and premature death. He even went as far as to say people with these names rarely live long lives! Many Ugandans found this offensive, seeing it as a direct attack on their heritage.
Some even pointed out the irony of Lubega’s own name, “Grace,” which has roots in Roman mythology. And he faced a sharp sword when he was told the meaning of his name Grace and why he should stop dissing the traditional names he found in place, those that were named before Christianity came in place.
This situation raises an important question: how do we balance faith and tradition in a post-colonial society? Many Ugandans believe their names are deeply connected to their ancestors and shouldn’t be dismissed because of religious beliefs.
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The debate continues, with many calling for a more harmonious approach that respects both religious and cultural values. And the debate is still going on, we are yet to find out who wins this as the man of God is still mute about this whole thing.
