Bukenya wife snatching case goes for mediation

By Michael Odeng

THE family division of the High Court has instructed the former Vice President Gilbert Bukenya and Emmanuel Nyabayango who accused the VP for unlawfully grabbing his wife to go for mediation.

This was after the hearing of the case failed to take-off because Ladislus Rwakafuzi, the lawyer representing Margaret Kabasinguzi, the woman Bukenya allegedly stnatched was not ready to proceed with the case.

“I am not ready to proceed because I need more time to prepare the defence of my client (Kabasinguzi),” he told court presided over by Justice Percy Tuhaise on Tuesday.

Tuhaise referred the case to the court mediator or registrar for settlement on pending grievances.

“If mediation hearing fails, we shall commence with the full trial of the case,” the judge said. She set April 16, 2015 as the date when the hearing is slated to start if mediation fails.

Tuhaise first adjourned the case to April 9, 2015 for mention and to know progress of mediation. She said the joint schedule memorandum was not in court records due to some missing facts.

The memorandum summarizes the legal principles that guide courts in the determination of joint custody issues.

Emmanuel Nyabayango (R) accuses Bukenya of snatching his wife Margaret Kabasinguzi (L). Photos by Juliet Kasirye

In November 2014, the court had directed both Bukenya’s lawyer to file a defence to the suit and Nyabayango’s lawyer to file a joint scheduling memorandum but submitted insufficient information.

On July 1 2014, Tuhaise ruled that Bukenya had a case to answer and should, therefore, defend himself but neither Bukenya nor his lawyer turned up in court for the case.

Prior to the ruling, Bukenya through his lawyer had raised preliminary point of law when they sought to dismiss the case on grounds that a fresh case opened against Bukenya was illegal and lacks cause of action because Nyabayango had already been compensated.  

In reply, Nyabayango’s lawyer, Ambrose Tiishekwa argued that his client was paid before going to court and a woman cannot be bought. 

Nyabayango through his lawyer filed the case against Bukenya in July 17, 2012 accusing him of seducing his wife, Margaret Kabasinguzi.

He also claims that Bukenya has a child with his wife, saying it was “unconstitutional, barbaric, inhuman and unlawful”.