Ugandan Politician’s Marriage Ends After Wife Claims He Fathered 8 Children With Different Women

Uganda’s High Court has dissolved the marriage between politician Matia Lwanga Bwanika and Barbara Babirye Katamba after the court found that Katamba had proved grounds of cruelty and desertion.

Justice John Eudes Keitirima of the High Court’s Family Division delivered the ruling on June 19, 2026, in Divorce Cause No. 238 of 2025. The court granted Katamba primary custody of the couple’s surviving child and ordered Bwanika to contribute to her upkeep.

The couple married on December 29, 2011, at Sacred Heart Rubaga Cathedral Parish in Kampala and later lived in Namulanda, Wakiso District.

According to evidence presented in court, the couple separated in 2017 after spending about a year living together. Katamba said they briefly reunited in 2021 after Bwanika asked her to return, including to support him during political campaign activities.

The reconciliation, however, did not restore the marriage, according to her evidence.

Wife made multiple allegations

Among the allegations presented by Katamba was that Bwanika had fathered at least eight children with different women before and during their marriage.

She alleged that he maintained a relationship with a woman identified as Sarah Walinda and had several children with her. Katamba further claimed that Bwanika built a house for Walinda in Kikokiro Zone, Wakiso District.

Katamba also alleged that Bwanika made her younger sister pregnant in 2013, an allegation she said caused significant distress within the family.

Another allegation concerned an employee at the family business. Katamba told the court that Bwanika attempted to pursue the employee, identified as Namirembe Catherine, who she said produced a love letter allegedly written by him.

She further alleged that in November 2016, Bwanika used money from the family business to purchase tickets for a trip to Dubai with another woman, identified as Hanifah Kasule Nalukenge.

Katamba said she initially confiscated the tickets after discovering the alleged plan but later returned them, after which Bwanika travelled to Dubai.

The allegations were part of Katamba’s evidence supporting her case for dissolution of the marriage and were not, by themselves, findings that Bwanika had committed each alleged act.

Court says evidence was not challenged

Katamba also told the court that Bwanika subjected her to repeated verbal abuse and conduct that caused her distress.

She described another incident during a 2022 trip to the United States, where she had travelled with Bwanika and their daughter after receiving medical treatment in Uganda.

According to her evidence, she wanted to remain in the US for further medical care but said Bwanika threatened her in the presence of their hosts. She subsequently remained in the United States with their daughter.

Justice Keitirima ultimately found that Bwanika had not challenged Katamba’s evidence in the proceedings.

“The Petitioner has therefore proved the grounds of desertion and cruelty against the respondent as her evidence was not controverted by the respondent,” the judge stated.

The court consequently dissolved the marriage on those grounds.

Katamba granted primary custody

The court also considered the welfare of the couple’s 10-year-old daughter, Nakakeeto Martina Milburgh.

Justice Keitirima noted that Katamba had been the child’s primary caregiver since 2017 and had provided for her needs.

Katamba was therefore granted primary custody, while Bwanika was given visitation rights subject to providing at least seven days’ notice.

The judge also directed Bwanika to contribute towards the child’s education, healthcare, shelter, food, clothing and other basic needs. Costs of the divorce petition were awarded to Katamba.

The ruling formally brought the marriage to an end after nearly 15 years, with the court’s decision focused on the legally established grounds of cruelty and desertion rather than determining every allegation contained in Katamba’s petition.

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