Matembe dad can remarry - lawyers

LAWYERS for Samwiri Rukoza, father to ethics and integrity minister Miria Matembe, have advised him to go ahead and wed Dina Itima despite opposition from his children.Ebenezer T. Bifubyeka reports that in a letter to the Archdeacon of Rutooma Church of Uganda, Kashari, Kirenga and Butagira and Company Advocates advised the Church to formalise and legalise the relationship of Rukoza, 84, and Itima through holy matrimony.The two-page letter warned the Church not to be biased by the property wrangles in the family and refuse to solemnise the marriage.Matembe has said she is not opposed to her father’s wedding, but wants her late mother’s land given to the orphans.Addressing the press in Mbarara town on Saturday, Rukoza said Matembe and her brother, Yowokasi Kotungire, had blocked his plans to wed Itima whom he has lived with for 18 years.“I was scheduled to wed Dina Itima on March 23, 2002 but Matembe went to Rutooma Church of Uganda and stopped the Rev. Muhanguzi from wedding us,” Rukoza said.He said Matembe wants to grab his 72 hectares of land in Kakyerere, Rutooma. “If I give her that land, where will my wife and our seven children stay?” Rukoza, the father of 17, asked angrily. This is the reason he sued Matembe.But Matembe said, “That land was bought out of my mother’s toil. I have not chased away my father’s second wife. I pay all the taxes for Rukoza and cater for him generally,” she said.Matembe’s mother, Ezether Kajwengye, died 10 years ago.The lawyers’ letter that was copied to the Bishop of Ankole Diocese, Elisha Kyamugambi, and the client, said, “Failing this, we shall be free to advise our client (Rukoza) to seek prerogative orders from the High Court at the heavy cost and embarrassment of the church.”