KAMPALA – Pastor Aloysius Bujjingo of the Makerere based House of Prayer Ministries International (HPMI) has urged court to dissolve” his 29-year-old marriage with his wife Ms. Teddy Naluswa.
Pastor Bugingo asserts the “love and attraction” he had for her “has been swept away” and they as a couple “cannot live together,” something that has stunned many Christians.
In a petition before Chief Magistrate’s Court in Entebbe, Bujjingo further said due the “cruel nature” and “incompatible impulsive conduct” of Ms Naluswa, their marriage has “irretrievably broken down.”
Pastor Bujingo in his affidavit states that there was no longer any more love between him and the wife, Ms Naluswa.
“The marriage was characterized by mistreatment, embarrassment in the presence of church members, friends and their children and Ms Naluswa “exhibited cruelty, selfishness and ungrateful attitude” towards him despite his loving and kind deeds, general disposition and words towards her,” Mr. Bujjingo says in his affidavit.
Other accusations leveled against Ms Naluswa include “being in constant communication with Bujjingo’s known rivals (enemies of church); appearing for various interviews in the media especially New Vision, Bukedde, defaming him in a bid to tarnish his character; and sending him “abusive messages among which regretting the day she met him and always praying for divorce.”
In his affidavit Mr. Bujjingo says further that while living with Ms Naluswa, he experienced marital problems from domestic violence and threats on his life which escalated between 2015 and 2019 until he was prompted to leave their matrimonial home.
Mr. Bujjingo’s affidavit is expected to pave way for the dissolution of his marriage with Naluswa to allow him prepare a fresh wedding ceremony with his fiancée Ms Suzan Nantaba Makula, a staff at his Salt Media.
Bujjingo’s marital woes have attracted considerable interest across the country with some condemning the act and urging him not to divorce Ms Naluswa.
Pastor Jessica Kayanja announced she was launching a prayer session for Naluswa, likening her to the Biblical Esther “who prevailed and stayed in the palace of the King despite her many foes.”
“May the seed that Ms. Teddy Bugingo has sown for 29 years in this marriage rise up and crush the head of the Serpent,” said Ms Kayanja.
But Bujjingo, resident of Kitende, Wakiso District, now says he has made up his mind to let go off the old marriage with Ms Naluswa.
How it started
On December 20, 2003, Mr. Bugingo got married to Ms Teddy Naluswa through church marriage at Ndeeba also known as Victory Christian Centre in Kampala and the marriage was solemnized under the provisions of the Marriage Act.
Mr. Bujjingo lived with Ms Naluswa in a rented house at Kazo, Bwaise, Kampala District but later built a house in Kitende.
The couple was blessed with four kids: – Doreen Gift Bujjingo, 27; Winnie Treasure Bujjingo, 22, Jennifer Blessed Bujjingo, 19 and Isaac Miracle Bujjingo.
Defending accusations of cruelty, Bujjingo said on August 10, 2015 when the Pastor presented the agreement of purchase of church land to Naluswa, she “threw the papers in his face in the presence of their children” calling him a “mad man.”
He further cited a family meeting in January 2018 during which Ms Naluswa “terribly abused” him to shame, in the presence of Pastor Edward Kayizi as a mediator.
Ms Naluswa’s concerns
On her part, Ms Naluswa accuses her husband of trying to wreck their marriage with the view of replacing her with another woman.
“My husband has for long been asking me divorce without any genuine reason,” she said.
Ms Naluswa also said Bujjingo threatened that if she denied him divorce, he [Bujjingo] would tarnish her reputation in all ways possible.
The Pastor contends the conduct of his wife “in private and in public is intolerable given his position and standing as a Pastor.”
