CrimeXclusive: Is Prof. Kateregga A Victim of Domestic Violence or A Man Desperate to Protect His Image after Losing Legal Battles Against his Wife

The Opinion: Last night, the editor of Uganda`s most-popular vernacular tabloid, Bukedde, made the Vice Chancellor and owner of Kampala University, Prof. Badru Kateregga shout on top of his voice thus; “Omukazi Angobye Munju.” This is Luganda for; “The Woman Has Thrown Me Out of The House.” The main story inside carried a kicker; Omukazi yankuba olubale kati angobye mu maka gange,” vernacular for “The woman hit me and now has thrown me out of my marital home.”

Adding fuel to the fire, the embattled educationist, or his handlers, ran to Mulengera, a news website, and announced further; “My Munyarwanda Wife Nearly Killed Me at Home & Has Now Grabbed My Buziga Palace, Rendering Me Homeless.” The use of his wife’s Rwandan heritage can easily be understood by the idlers. But in a country whose president, Yoweri Kaguta Museveni is falsely, but largely claimed to originate from Rwanda, and who`s main opponent, Kyagulanyi Ssentamu is married to a true Munyarwanda, the tribal card is the least item one can use to attract public empathy.

Whereas the news platforms can’t be blamed for running Prof. Kateregga`s lamentations as gospel truth, the educationist stand himself blamed for misleading the media, as well as the entire public. This stance, given the fact that this website, the mighty Investigator, upon leakage of Prof. Kateregga`s claims some months ago, of having been hit by his wife, and the same having thrown him out of their marital home, we had gone down to dig the facts.

For starters, the 78yr old Professor is officiary married to the 35yr old wife and business partner, having tied the knot, or taken Nikah via Islamic Sharia laws on March 3^rd 2013. However, this doesn’t erase the fact that the good Professor has other known wives and, or mistresses around the country. But why, among others, Jolly is in the center of the family conflict. This may require a visit at how they met.

Like other two known wives who came before her, the then 22yr old Kampala University student Jolly too, was spotted by Professor Kateregga, while in her second year at the latter`s own university. Because of her knack for institutionalism and business marketing, it was not long before Kateregga made her a shareholder and fellow Director in charge of Marketing and Finance at Kampala University.

Indeed, it was not too long before she managed the family business into spreading its wings to Kenya and Rwanda where, they respectively erected branches. As time went by, the two started developing misunderstandings, stemming from accusations and counter accusations of infidelity against each other. But this stance, after siring three issues, including the twins now aged eleven, and another boy of four years.

Resting on our editorial desk, are documents giving credence to assumptions that Professor Kateregga is coming out now, to probably character assassinate his wife, after losing the legal battles against her. For starters, Prof. Kateregga himself filed a case against his wife before Makindye-premised Chief Magistrate`s Court, touching the issue of the children`s paternity, hence praying for a DNA on all the three kids.

In the same breadth and via the same suit, Jolly accused Kateregga of physically abandoning the family, and failing to fend for them. “The parties have of late developed a misunderstanding and are now staying apart. This prompted the respondent (Jolly) to file an application for a maintenance order. The applicant (Kateregga) seeks from court an order to have the three minors be tested to ascertain that indeed, the minors are his biological children on suspicion that they are likely not to be his,” reads part of the ruling issued by Grade One Magistrate Charles Opio.

To Professor Kateregga`s surprise, Jolly did not object to his DNA prayer, save for her clear reservations that he wanted to use it as a delaying tactic against her prayer for maintenance. Secondly, she prayed that the DNA be conducted by the United States Department of State because the children are American Citizens. Jolly`s suggestion was in response to Kateregga`s prayer that the DNA should be superintended at a foreign accredited medical facility to ensure transparence and accuracy of the results.

“I am agreeable to both parties` suggestions to court. But we have a Government Analytical Laboratory at Wandegeya where we refer the parties to take paternity tests. Therefore, the parties are ordered to appear at the Government Analytical Laboratory on the 8^th of April 2025 at 10:00am for taking tests,” ruled the Magistrate. However, court gave them liberty to engage any other foreign accredited facility for further verifications after Wandegeya.

In the same measure, Court granted Jolly`s prayer for maintenance of the children pending the DNA results. “However, in determination of matters concerning or relating children, court puts regard to their welfare. The welfare principle is paramount consideration,” he ruled, before ordering Kateregga to “be remitting UGX3,000,000 for maintenance of the children every month, to me this is an adequate amount pending the DNA test results.”

On the issue of allegedly being hit and injured by Jolly before reportedly throwing him out of the marital home, Kateregga himself filed a criminal case against Jolly at Kibuli-premised Criminal Investigations Directorate (CID) headquarters. It is in this website`s view that Kateregga filed the domestic violence and assault case, in hope of sure victory, assuming that it was still yesteryears CID where, justice was a preserve of the loaded and connected!

For starters, today`s CID is led by Maj. Tom Magambo, the no-nonsense lad, richly endowed with fine military intelligence credentials. To this end, Detectives went down to work, giving no room for any interruptions away from investigating to logical conclusion, Prof. Kateregga`s allegations, claiming that he was held incommunicado for one week at his home. To the Professor`s dismay, the Detectives` extensive investigations punched holes in his claims.

Upon closure of their probe, investigators revealed that the professor was actively engaged in multiple public and private activities during the period he claimed to have been “held incommunicado” by his wife Jolly! They cited a meeting involving the Mpologoma Clan and the Buganda Attorney General he attended at Mengo on August 27^th 2024!

They also established that Kateregga attended Burial Planning meetings for the send-off of Nnamuguzi, the Head of the Mpologoma Clan between August 28^th and 31^st 2024. The good Professor was also cited at Busaabala, Kazi Scouts Site, with the Country`s Vice President on August 30^th 2024. On September 3^rd 2024, Professor Kateregga was positively placed at the burial of his brother, a one Jjuuko in Butambala!

Detectives further established that between September 4^th and 7^th 2024, Kateregga made medical visits to his physician, Dr. Silver Bahendeka at Doctor’s Plaza in Nsambya on two occasions. Again, he was seen at Georgina’s Eye Clinic, surprisingly, with his very wife he`s accusing of having held him incommunicado at home!

On September 8^th 2024, accompanied by his family members, Kateregga checked into IHK, where he underwent surgery for blood clots. Detectives established that the Professor had previously dealt with the same clot condition, and his neurologist, Dr. Joel Kiryabwire, confirmed the same. This denies credence to allegations that the wound Kateregga parades as an injury visited on him by his wife, is actually a medical dressing courtesy of the surgery.

Investigators further gathered that Professor Kateregga maintained regular communication via his phone during the period he was allegedly held `incommunicado` by his wife, hence watering down his claim of being isolated. Detectives further linked Kateregga`s claims to the ongoing family conflicts involving his older children and individuals opposed to his relationship with Jolly.

Furthermore, investigators landed on reports that Professor Kateregga is cohabiting with a another 24yr old lady, hence adding another layer of complexity to his narrative. “The motive behind the false detention claims remains unclear,” summed up the police investigations report before the same was forwarded to the DPP for charge preferences. Upon perusal of the same police findings, the DDP honorably dismissed Kateregga`s claims against his wife before setting aside the file!

This unfolding scandal has left Ugandans divided. While some sympathize with Mzee Kateregga’s claims, others see him as a man desperate to protect his image after losing legal battles against his wife. What remains clear though, is that the saga is far from over. The question is… Will the Professor accept defeat, or another shocking revelation is simply hovering over his head? … Watch this space…

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Stanley Ndawula: Stanley Ndawula is a two and a half decades’ seasoned investigative journalist with a knack for serious crimes investigations and reporting. He’s the Founding Editorial Director and CEO at The Investigator Publications (U) Limited