The Church of Uganda and the Busoga and Buganda Kingdoms find themselves entangled in a legal dispute as lawyer Male Mabirizi files a lawsuit at Jinja High Court challenging the validity of the Royal Wedding between Kyabazinga William Gabula Nadiope IV and Ms Jovia Mutesi.
The couple exchanged vows on November 18 at Christ’s Cathedral Bugembe in Jinja North City Division in a ceremony presided over by Archbishop The Most Rev Dr Stephen Samuel Kaziimba Mugalu. However, the joyous occasion took an unexpected turn when Mr. Mabirizi, on November 20, filed a suit seeking to nullify the wedding.
Mr. Male’s lawsuit targets Kyabazinga Nadiope, his newly-wedded wife, Archbishop Mugalu, and the Queen of Buganda Kingdom, Ms. Sylvia Nagginda. The crux of the matter revolves around accusations against the Kyabazinga for entering into a marriage allegedly void due to his purported existing marriage to one Alison Anne.
Ms. Mutesi faces accusations of knowingly entering into a union with a married man, despite purported warnings. Archbishop Mugalu is accused of presiding over the marriage vows, while Ms. Nagginda is accused of signing the marriage certificate as a witness.
The Directorate of Public Prosecutions (DPP) has taken over the case, citing Constitutional provisions.
In response to the legal challenge, the Provincial Secretary of the Church of Uganda, Mr. Balaam Muheebwa, defended the Church's actions, stating that they did the right thing by conducting the wedding.
"As a Church, we did the right thing and played our part," he said.
Mr. Muheebwa explained that the Church lawyers conducted due diligence, and at the time of the wedding, there was nothing substantial to deter the ceremony. The Spokesperson of Buganda Kingdom, Mr. Israel Kazibwe Kitooke, expressed little concern about Mabirizi's case.
"You know he (Mabirizi) is always fighting a losing battle. He wants to be recognized whether he has a case or not. He is born to lose. We have defeated him several times, so we have no worry about his case." he said.
Prior to the Royal Wedding, the Prime Minister of Busoga Kingdom, Mr. Joseph Muvawala, emphasized that the Kyabazinga had never been married under any known forms of marriage, had not fathered any children, and no one had received a marriage certificate as alleged by Ms. Alison.
As the legal proceedings unfold, the controversy surrounding the Royal Wedding continues to captivate public attention, with the future of the union hanging in the balance.
