Ugandan singer Mary Bata has urged women to consider marriage even when they are financially independent, arguing that money and property cannot replace the companionship and support a partner can provide.
The singer said women should not assume that achieving financial success means they no longer need a relationship, suggesting that life can bring moments when emotional support and having someone by their side become important.
Mary Bata pointed to her own experience, saying she had acquired money and property without relying on a man but had not found that independence alone made life fulfilling.
“Everyone in this world needs a partner. God has blessed me and I got money without a man and all the properties without a man, but it’s not fun. Women should stop deceiving themselves,” she said.
Her remarks focus on the distinction between financial independence and companionship, with the singer arguing that achieving personal and material goals does not necessarily fulfil every emotional need.
Mary Bata also maintained that men can provide guidance and support to their partners regardless of how much money the women earn or what property they own.
The singer further questioned the image of happiness that some single women present on social media, suggesting that outward displays of independence do not always reflect a person’s private feelings about companionship.
She argued that single life can offer freedom and happiness, but circumstances may eventually arise when having a partner becomes particularly valuable.
“No one is happier than a married woman. In single life, you can be happy and independent, but time reaches and you need someone when everything is done and dusted,” she said.
Her comments have added to the ongoing conversation about marriage, relationships and the expectations placed on women who pursue financial independence.
While Mary Bata expressed a strong preference for marriage and partnership, her remarks reflect her personal views rather than a universal experience. Financial independence, single life and marriage can mean different things to different people, and neither relationship status nor financial circumstances alone determine an individual’s happiness.
For the singer, however, financial success has not eliminated the value she places on having a partner, and she believes women should remain open to marriage rather than assume they must choose between independence and companionship.