📷 How Rukutana met newest wife Nyakato

Francis Mwesigwa Rukutana, the former Member of Parliament for Rushenyi County in Ntungamo district, found joy on Saturday, July 13, as a young and beautiful midwife, Esther Nyakato, officially introduced him as her partner to her parents.

Rukutana being introduced by Esther Nyakato at her parents home in Rubare on Saturday.

Rukutana, accompanied by his team led by Charles Tumwebaze, visited the home of Mzee Sonzi Esau-Ssalongo and Nalongo to be officially introduced by their daughter.

The colourful introduction ceremony took place at Nyakato’s parents' home in Kyabukuju Cell, Rubaare Town Council, Rushenyi, Ntungamo district, and was attended by a select number of guests.

Esther Nyakato and her brother cutting cake during the introduction ceremony.

Rukutana, a former minister and ex-deputy attorney general, presented numerous gifts to Nyakato’s parents and relatives and gave ten cows as a token of appreciation to Nyakato for accepting to be his official wife.

He was accompanied by Ambassador Bamwine Quillino, the Swaziland Ambassador to Uganda, as his page boy, and his son Arnold Mugasha as his best man.

Nyakato serving Rukutana cake during the introduction ceremony.

Others in the entourage included Ntungamo LC5 chairman Sam Muchunguzi-Rwakigooba, Major Sam Rukundo-Rwabukwitsi, Fred Muhinda the chairman of the Rubare Town Council business community, Capt. Katamba-Ssemakula, Kenneth Nuwagira a senior lecturer at Kampala International University, his brother Levi Ntagaywa, Julia Barugahare, NEMA’s Alex Katungi, Kenneth Byakyi the area LC1 chairman of Kyabukuju cell, Alex Twebuze the Rubaare sub-county LC3 chairman, and a team of lawyers from M/S Mwesigwa Rukutana and Company Advocates, among other friends and relatives.

Rukutana and his wife Nyakato.

In his speech, Rukutana thanked Nyakato’s parents for accepting him as their son-in-law and promised to love their daughter forever. He praised Esther for her hard work as a midwife and vowed to support her in all her development projects as well as the family of his father-in-law.

Rukutana assured that Nyakato would be fully supported because they love each other.

He later amused the guests by saying he admires the President of Swaziland, King Mswati, who marries a wife every year, but reassured Nyakato that she shouldn’t worry because he wouldn’t behave like that and intended not to marry another wife.

Rukutana speaking after being introduced by Nyakato, besides him is the go-between Charles Twebaze (R) and best man Arnold Mugasha (L).

Rukutana recounted how he first saw Nyakato when he was in the Ntungamo Chief Magistrate’s Court, battling a case where MP Naome Kabasharira’s supporters accused him of shooting one of their agents, Dan Rweiburingi, during the 2020 NRM primaries.

Nyakato was among the people seated in the courtroom, taking notes, while Rukutana was in the dock. Despite his situation, he managed to notice her and pursued her after the court quashed the case against him and cleared all charges, setting him free.

Rukutana, his best man Arnold Mugasha, Nykato and her Matron Nyangoma at the introduction.

Rukutana, who is rumoured to have several wives, received encouragement from some guests to run again in 2026 and reclaim his seat, which he lost in the 2021 elections to Kabasharira, an independent candidate.