Chosen Becky, the Ugandan gospel singer, tied the knot with her lover Abdul Ssekajja in a civil wedding. But the ceremony’s most talked-most moment wasn’t the vows. Photos and videos from the event show a particularly emotional highlight that came when her four children took centre stage.
Becky’s three boys, smartly dressed in black suits and white shirts, proudly walked forward carrying placards.
“We finally got a caring dad. We are the Ssekajjas,” one read.
“Yes! My mum now owns the name Ssekajja,” another read.
Meanwhile, the youngest child, a daughter, was tenderly carried by her grandmother.
The display sparked lively debate among social media users.
While many fans took the placards at face value as a joyful acknowledgement of the stepfather, others viewed them as a public dig at the children’s biological father and criticised the use of minors in what some called a “personal message.” The posts quickly sparked heated debate across Instagram, X and Facebook.
The controversy escalated when the Ugandan Ministry of Gender, Labour and Social Development moved to investigate. State Minister for Youth and Children Affairs Balaam Barugahara has formally summoned Chosen Becky to appear at the ministry’s offices on Tuesday, 23 December, to explain the circumstances of the display.
According to the summons reported by local outlets, the ministry wants the singer to withdraw the actions involving the children, issue a public apology, provide a written commitment not to involve minors in personal disputes, and delete related social media content.
Legal and child-welfare commentators weighing in on the story have pointed out why officials appear concerned: children are regarded as a protected group, and using them to convey messages about adult relationships or disputes can risk emotional harm or public exposure they did not consent to.
Advocates for children’s rights stressed that celebration and inclusion are not the problem, it is the framing and public use of children in messages that might put them in the middle of private conflicts.
Chosen Becky’s team has not yet publicly released a full statement addressing the summons at the time of publication.
For many netizens, this has reignited a wider conversation about the responsibilities of public figures when children are involved: how to celebrate transitions in family life respectfully, and where the line should be drawn between family joy and the child’s right to privacy.
