Police respond to Prof. Kateregga statements on wife's case

KAMPALA - Uganda Police Force has dismissed claims by Prof. Badru Kateregga, who accused the Force of "mishandling" the aggravated assault case he filed against wife, Jolly Shubaiha Kateregga. 

He also accuses the wife of denying him access to their matrimonial home in Buziga, Kampala district.

Prof. Kateregga, who is also the Vice Chancellor at Kampala University, claimed on Friday, July 25, 2024, that the Criminal Investigations Directorate (CID) had failed to act on a case of aggravated assault he filed against his estranged wife.

Addressing the media in Kampala, Friday Kateregga claimed that CID and the Office of the Director Public Prosecution (ODPP), failed to act on the directive by the Inspector General of Police (IGP) Abbas Byakagaba they investigate his case and return him to his house.

However, police spokesperson Rusoke Kituuma, in a statement released on Friday evening, said they had seen a statement circulating on social media and other media outlets concerning the dispute between Prof. Kateregga and his wife, Shubaiha, in which they dragged the police into their family dispute.

In the statement circulated Friday night, Kituuma states, "We wish to provide the following clarification: The domestic dispute between Prof. Kateregga and his wife was brought to the attention of the Uganda Police on November 7th 2024.  Following receipt of the complaint, the matter was fully investigated under CID HQRS/GEF 306/204, an

“Upon perusal, on February 18th 2025, the ODPP guided that the family differences are rooted in property ownership and management, which is out of control of Police and can best be handled by a civil court. The above position has since been communicated to both conflicting parties through their lawyers. The expectation by Prof Kateregga that police or CID in particular, has powers to remove Shubaiha from the premises is outside our mandate.” 

Police further noted that “the alteration of possession of property under dispute can only be effected by a court order. Any request to act outside of this legal framework, or in the absence of a court order, cannot be entertained. As custodians of the law, the Uganda Police can only act within the boundaries of the law. We work in close collaboration with other institutions, such as the ODPP, whose advice and directives we adhere to, without deviation.”

“Any notion that the police can override the opinion of the ODPP or carry out actions contrary to established legal procedures is unfounded.  The Uganda Police Force remains dedicated to upholding the law impartially and urges all parties involved to utilise lawful avenues for resolving their differences,” the statement added.

In April this year, Prof. Kateregga publicly accused his wife, Shubaiha, of grabbing his property and domestic violence.

Addressing the media at the university’s campus, Prof. Kateregga alleged his wife assaulted him in September 2023, leaving a visible head scar, and claimed she wanted to control his assets, including the institution he established in 1993.

Shubaiha, former university finance director and Board of Trustees chairperson, denied the allegations, calling them defamatory. She cited her decades-long commitment to the family and institution, stating, “I sacrificed everything to build this empire, only to face baseless claims of greed and violence.”

She denied evicting him from their jointly owned property and accused him of sidelining her from university management despite her legal stake.

Prof. Kateregga claimed his wife was forcing him to disinherit his older children in favour of their shared offspring.