The High Court has dissolved the marriage between Barbara Babirye Katamba and Matia Lwanga Bwanika after finding that Katamba had proved grounds of cruelty and desertion.
The couple was married on December 29, 2011, at Sacred Heart Rubaga Cathedral Parish in Kampala and later lived together at their matrimonial home in Namulanda, Wakiso District. They have a 10-year-old daughter identified in court documents as Nakakeeto Martina Milburgh.
In her petition, Katamba told court that the couple first separated in 2017 after about one year of cohabitation. She said she returned to the matrimonial home in 2021 following a request from Bwanika and intervention by family members, partly to support him during his political campaign rallies.
However, Katamba told court that the reunion did not resolve their marital differences. She alleged that Bwanika deserted her, failed to provide support for her and their child, and engaged in conduct that forced her to flee the matrimonial home. She stated that they have since lived separately and have not enjoyed conjugal rights.
Katamba also accused Bwanika of adultery and alleged that he had concealed information about previous relationships and children before their marriage. She claimed he had several women and at least eight children from different relationships and continued to maintain relationships with some of them, making cohabitation impossible.
Court, after evaluating the evidence, found that the petitioner had proved cruelty and desertion, and accordingly dissolved the marriage.
