Blind man accused of wife snatching

By Tolbert Edait

A mother of seven in Ngora district has ditched her 70-yearold husband for a 52-year-old blind man, raising eyebrows in her community.

Rose Atuko, who has been married to Augustine Osupa of Kees village, Ngora subcounty in Ngora district for 16 years is now cohabiting with John Opio, 52. Their union has further been cemented by the birth of a son who is now three years old.

The matter, however, only came to light recently when Osupa sought the intervention of the Child and Family Protection Unit at Ngora Central Police Station.

“I feel bad losing my wife to a blind man after producing six children with her during our 16-year-old marriage,” Osupa told the New Vision.

He said he still loved his wife and that it was not good for their children to miss the love of either parent, especially considering his advanced age and the need to have a wife by his side.

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Atuko and her former husband Osupa. Photo by Tolbert Edait

Opio, who was summoned to Ngora Central Police Station together with Atuko, says since she has declared her love for him, he is willing to refund Osupa’s bride price to enable him marry his new catch.

“I will not prevent Atuko from visiting the children she produced with Osupa if I marry her. I will also offer them support where necessary,” Opio said.

The head of the Child and Family Protection Unit in Soroti, Michael Erimu, said they advised the two parties to have the matter resolved by clan members and accord the children their rights.

“Atuko’s heart is with Opio who has also declared his readiness to meet the cultural requirements in marrying her. Therefore, the clan should be able to solve this matter without hurting any party,” Erimu said.

Michael Opio, the chairman of the Irarak Imumwa clan to which Osupa belongs, said they allowed Atuko to marry Opio.

Locals witnessing the payment of the bride price by Opio to Osupa. Photo by Tolbert Edait

“Osupa should reach an understanding with Opio and refund the bride price he paid,” Opio said. 

During the recent clan meeting, Atuko shocked relatives and friends by openly declaring that she could not continue being Osupa’s wife because of his advanced age and failure to carry out his conjugal duties.

‘Even if Opio is blind, my heart is with him because he is able to meet all my needs as a woman; unlike Osupa my former husband,” Atuko said. 

The deputy information minister for the Iteso Cultural Union, Jonathan Maraka, however, condemned the proposed union between Atuko and Opio, saying she should stick to Osupa. He said what the lovebirds had done is against Iteso cultural norms and called for Opio to be fined. 

Meanwhile, the chairperson of Uganda National Disabled Union, Patrick Onyait, said this was the first case he has registered of a blind person being accused of grabbing another person’s wife.