Controversial City Lawyer Male Mabirizi is not about to give up on his quest to ensure renown Pastor Aloysius Bujjingo goes to jail for bigamy.
Mabirizi is challenging a decision by the Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP) to take over a consolidated case filed at Entebbe Grade One Magistrate by him and another lawyer identified as Robert Rutaro. The duo instituted private prosecution proceedings against Bujjingo and Makula over their alleged traditional marriage ceremony.
Pastor Bujjingo, head of House of Prayer Ministries in Kampala, was recently reportedly introduced in a customary marriage by his longtime concubine Susan Makula in a splash ceremony at her home in Kawuku, Wakiso district on December 7, 2021.
Consequently, Mabirizi run to the Civil Division of the High Court in Kampala challenging the marriage on grounds that he contravened the Customary Marriage Law that prohibits married people from remarrying before divorce.
He contends that Bujjingo was already married to Teddy Naluswa, a marriage contracted on December 20, 2003, at Victory Christian Centre. But without its formal dissolution, he allegedly married Makula under customary law.
He also sued Bujjingo’s lover Makula for marrying him, knowing too well that he was already legally married to another woman. Entebbe Grade One Magistrate Stella Okwong Paculal private charged Bujjingo on two counts, and Makula on one count.
The Uganda Communications Commission an authority responsible for broadcast content availed the controversial lawyer with the video footage of the alleged introduction ceremony of the accused.
However, the Director of Public Prosecutions – DPP to recently announced it was taking over the case. In a letter dated January 12, 2022, to Entebbe Chief Magistrate’s Court, that the DPP announced it was taking over the consolidated case.
The DPP also asked them to provide information and documents regarding the cases.
Mabirizi and Rutaro now argue that DPP’s decision contravenes the Magistrates’ Courts Act, as well as sections of the 1995 Constitution.
“We are saying that decision is illegal because this matter can be handled at a Magistrate’s court or even the High court to quash the DPP’s decision, We are here for a judicial review so that the decision is quashed,”He said
Bujjingo has since denied the accusations arguing that he never conducted an introduction ceremony, but only honoured an invitation by Makula’s parents.
Bujjingo is expected to appear in Court on 21 January 2022. Once convicted, he and Makula face a five-year jail sentence for each of the offences.
