The Lands Minister Judith Nabakooba has warned that the misuse of social media is contributing to quarrels, mistrust and the breakdown of marriages, urging couples to keep their private disputes off online platforms.
Nabakooba said social media, when used irresponsibly, can damage relationships by providing a public platform for couples to expose, embarrass or attack each other.
“Social media has become a threat to marriages because many people are using it badly,” Nabakooba said.
The minister made the remarks while delivering a message from the central government at a traditional introduction ceremony in which Ruth Nakintu introduced her husband, Douglas Wakibugo, to her parents in Mityana Central Division, Mityana Municipality.
Nakintu is a daughter of former Mityana District Woman MP Sylvia Namabidde.
Nabakooba urged couples to exercise restraint on social media and avoid taking their disagreements online, saying public quarrels can erode trust and further strain relationships.
“Let us trust in God and avoid quarrelling on social media. We should use these platforms responsibly and not allow them to destroy our relationships,” she noted.
She also encouraged couples to strengthen their faith in God, saying religious values can help them navigate challenges and protect their marriages.
Her remarks come amid growing concerns about the role of social media in relationships, particularly when private disagreements are turned into public disputes.
At the ceremony, Buganda Minister of Culture and Traditions Anthony Wamala congratulated Nakintu and her husband and acknowledged the challenges young women face, including deception by some men.
Wamala commended the couple’s parents for preserving cultural values and fulfilling their responsibilities in the marriage process.
“In our culture, the ceremony is now complete. What remains is for them to go to church and pray for their marriage,” he said.
The remarks highlight a growing tension between the increasing use of social media as a means of communication and the need to protect privacy and trust within intimate relationships. While social media can help couples stay connected and communicate, its misuse can also turn personal disagreements into public confrontations, making responsible use and private resolution of conflicts increasingly important for couples.
