Legal Storm Brews Over Busoga Royal Wedding: Controversial Lawyer Takes Royal Couple to Court

By Gad Masereka

In the aftermath of the historic Royal Wedding in Busoga Kingdom, which drew over 2000 attendees to Bugembe Cathedral, a legal whirlwind has erupted within a mere week. Notably, controversial city lawyer Hassan Male Mabirizi Kiwanuka has thrown the royal couple into the courtroom spotlight, alleging that their union is illegal.

On November 18, a grand ceremony unfolded as Kyabazinga William Wilberforce Nadiope Kadhumbula IV and Inebantu Jovia Mutesi exchanged vows at Bugembe Cathedral, officiated by the Archbishop of the Church of Uganda, Dr. Samuel Stephen Kaziimba Mugalu.

However, the joyous occasion has taken an unexpected turn, with lawyer Male Mabirizi, known for litigating against prominent figures in Uganda, revealing plans to sue the Busoga King, his bride, the officiating Archbishop, and even the Buganda queen. The charges revolve around what Mabirizi deems an “illegal marriage.”

Mabirizi, who claims to have held undisclosed meetings, outlined four criminal charges, including fictitious marriage, bigamy, unlawfully performing a marriage ceremony, and conspiracy. He accuses Kyabazinga Nadiope of engaging in a second marriage while allegedly being aware of a prior London contract, labeling it as fictitious.

The charge of bigamy is extended to the Kyabazinga, who Mabirizi asserts is aware of a subsisting marriage but entered into another. Queen Mutesi faces allegations of participating in a marriage ceremony with a married person, despite being aware of the existing marriage. Archbishop Kaziimba Mugalu is accused of officiating over an allegedly unlawful union.

Mabirizi emphasizes that the charges carry severe penalties, including imprisonment, and alleges that Queen Nnaabagereka Sylvia Nagginda and others conspired to commit offenses prohibited by the marriage act and penal code act.

The city lawyer, no stranger to legal battles, has previously had cases taken over by the Director of Public Prosecutions. Whether his decision to take the Busoga Royal couple to court is influenced by recent public opposition to the wedding remains unclear as of this report.

The impending legal drama adds an unexpected chapter to the Busoga Royal Wedding, raising questions about the legal standing of the union and the potential implications for the royal couple and those involved in the ceremony.