In this 2013 photo Prof Gilbert Bukenya is seen posing with singer Iryn Namubiru. PHOTO CREDIT: BUKEDDE
The wife of Prof Gilbert Bukenya, Dr Margaret Mary Musoke, has filed for divorce, accusing the former vice president of abandoning his marital obligations, which has irretrievably shuttered their marriage.
In the divorce suit filed in the Family Division of the High Court at Makindye on May 7, Dr Musoke contends that Prof Bukenya deserted their matrimonial home and engaged in incidents of adultery and infidelity.
“… in the course of the marriage, the respondent (Bukenya) has deserted your petitioner (Dr Margaret Mary Musoke Bukenya) at the family/matrimonial home, engaged in endless instances of adultery and infidelity and subjected your petitioner to endless distress and abuse amounting to cruelty,” Dr Musoke states in the suit documents.
She is represented by Ligomarc Advocates.
In the suit, Dr Musoke states that she lawfully married Prof Bukenya on September 21, 1974 at St Augustine Chapel, Makerere University, and that the marriage was solemonised in accordance with the Marriage Act.
She contends that in 1982/83, Prof Bukenya repeatedly committed adultery with Ms Teddy Ndagire, which resulted in the birth of a son, Capt Brian Bukenya.
Capt Bukenya, who was working with the elite presidential guard Special Forces Command, died in November 2009. According to particulars of the divorce suit, Prof Bukenya from the late 1990s had several other extra-marital affairs with other women, among them late Stella Njuba and Margaret Kabasinguzi Nyabongo, who was his mobiliser, and Jamila Nakku.
“The respondent (Bukenya) has had several other extramarital affairs, which have been highly publicised in the media much in my shame and ridicule. These women, among others, include a popular musician, Ms Irene Namubiru, and Princess Sheila Nvanungi, among others,” she states.
Dr Musoke contends that she has been a witness to some of the extra-marital affairs and despite confronting her husband on the issues, Prof Bukenya has not been repentant or shown himself willing to desist from the ridiculous and demeaning behaviour.
“The respondent has not spent a night at the family home in Ntinda since July 2012. Before that, he would only visit briefly in October 2011 to attend mass following his release from prison. Since July 2012, he has only visited once in May 2015,” she contends.
Abandoning home
Dr Musoke further states that Prof Bukenya stopped giving any support to the family and as a result, the guards assigned to her as spouse of the former vice president were later withdrawn for her inability to provide them food and other amenities.
“The respondent has for the last 10 years taken residence at another country home at Garuga, Katomi where he is known to host scandalous sensual parties, including the infamous bikini parties with young girls and city socialites, much to the embarrassment of your petitioner and her family,” Dr Musoke states.
According to the complaint, as a result of the numerous extra- marital affairs, Dr Bukenya has had to constantly endure the agony of not only undergoing HIV and STD tests but also worrying about her safety in light of the claims from other women that her husband is theirs.
“That your petitioner has had the challenge of raising her children in a healthy and safe environment despite the toxic setting resulting from the respondent’s aggressive and public behaviour,” Prof Bukenya’s wife further contends.
Efforts to get a comment from Prof Bukenya were futile as his known mobile telephone number was not available by press time.
He is expected to file his defence against the suit within 15 days from receipt of court summons. We have, however, not established whether he has received the summons or not.
Prof Bukenya is also former MP for Busiro North.
Background
Recent case. In 2014, Prof Bukenya admited paying Shs110 million to his former political mobiliser who sued him for allegedly seducing his wife. Prof Bukenya, through his lawyer Macdusman Kabega, told court that he had signed a Memorandum of Understanding with his accuser, Mr Emmanuel Nyabayango, where he paid him the money. On July 17, 2012, Mr Nyabayango sued Prof Bukenya, alleging that the former VP’s act of seducing his wife was unconstitutional and unlawful.