Singer Bukeni Ali alias Nubian Li has wedded his long-time lover, Mutoni Salha with whom she has been for the last 14 years.
The two had their Nikah ceremony (Islamic marriage ceremony) at Kibuli mosque on Sunday, where they signed their marriage contract.
Nubian Li and Salha, later hosted their family, friends and loved ones to a wedding reception at Silver Springs Hotel in Bugolobi.
The musician-studded ceremony had performances from singers like A Pass, King Saha, Sylver Kyagulanyi, Aziz Azion, Kabako, Hilderman and Mesearch Semakula among others. Actors Patriko Mujuuka and Wycliff Luyombya were the emcees.
Nubian met Mutoni while she was in her second year at Makerere University. He used to visit a mutual friend at one of the hostels in Kikoni where Mutoni was residing. Their friendship has since evolved and together, they have sired three children. The couple has two daughters and a son.
Their wedding was many things but it also went to show how deep Nubian Li’s relationship with long-time singing partner, Bobi Wine, runs.
Bobi was Nubian Li’s best man while Barbie, wife to Bobi, was the matron. Bobi and Nubian have been together in music camp Firebase Crew for decades with Bobi as President and Nubian as his deputy.
In 2020, Nubian Li disclosed that he was the person who sold the idea of running for political office (as MP) to Bobi Wine. This marked the start of Bobi’s political career that saw him eventually run for President of Uganda this year.
In his remarks at the wedding, Bobi assured Salha that in Nubian, she has found herself “a good man”.
He thanked her for keeping her husband in line.
“For us men, it’s the women that we get in our lives that keep us in our line. Thank you for being a prayerful woman. Thank you for being a mother, thank you for being a sober woman. But most importantly, thank you for being strict. She is a very strict woman.”
Her strictness has created a refined Nubian Li, he said.
“When Nubian was in prison, I usually visited his family but I was often guilty and shy to look her in the face, because I didn’t know what to tell her. But she was there for her family. We celebrate you so much,” he added.
To Nubian, he said: “I celebrate you my brother, my family celebrates you, the nation celebrates you. People love you so much Nubian. If it wasn’t for Covid, even Namboole stadium wouldn’t have been enough to accommodate this wedding,” said Bobi Wine.
In a subtle way, Bobi advised his longtime buddy against marrying another wife even though Islam allows it. According to Bobi, Salha possesses everything that Nubian would need in another wife.
Together, the Firebase singing partners performed their songs ‘Kigwa Leero’ and ‘For Better for Worse’ to Salha.
Rather than make a speech, Nubian poured out his heart to his wife by performing a new song he wrote for their special day.
“Let me put a golden bracelet on your wrist so you know how much I love you…. I’ll put on you a wedding ring…. You look elegant in your wedding gown…
Let’s go to Kibuli so our marriage is blessed…. It’s been a long journey. We loved each other where there were no riches. True love…” – excerpts from the song.
Salha, initially Gloria Mutoni, but who had to covert to Islam because of the husband, expressed how she has found the man of her dreams and thanked him for his humility.
“My late father is not here, but I got a man that shares many of his attributes. For that reason, I’m happy. Nubian Li is as humble as my dad was, he’s optimistic, loves his kids, he loves God, he’s a friend, he’s genuine, he’s an Angel,” she told guests.
