Entebbe Magistrate Grade One Stella Okwong Paculal has charged House of Prayer Ministries lead pastor Aloysius Bugingo and Suzan Makula Nantaba with three counts contrary to the Marriage Act.
The duo was dragged to court by lawyers Male Mabirizi and Robert Rutaro Muhairwe for engaging in a marriage process early this month, yet he is still married to Teddy Bugingo.
Mabirizi and Rutaru accuse Bujjingo and Makula of contracting an illegal marriage.
To sign formal charges against Bugingo and Makula, Magistrate Okwong relied on information from Joseph Emuit, the village chairman of Bwerenga cell, Katabi town council where the introduction ceremony took place.
In his letter dated December 16, Emuit confirmed to the court that Bujjingo and Makula got married at a ceremony held in his area. He says that though he did not attend, the ceremony was held on December 7, at the home of former Minister Nyombi Thembo.
As a result, Okwong said that though Mabirizi and Rutaro had proposed charges in their complaints, she has come up with her own charges against the duo.
Bujjingo is accused of contracting marriage by customary law when already married under the Marriage Act contrary to Section 50 of the Marriage Act. He particularly contracted a marriage by customary law having contracted a marriage under the Marriage Act with Teddy Naluswa Bujjingo, and during the continuance of that marriage, he contracted another marriage under customary law with Makula.
Bujjingo on conviction may be sentenced to serve a maximum of five years in jail for each offence committed.
Makula is charged with contracting marriage with a person previously married contrary to Section 42 of the Marriage Act. Being unmarried, she is accused of going through the ceremony of marriage with Bujjingo whom she knows to be married to Naluswa. On conviction, she is liable to serve a maximum jail term of five years.
The case was adjourned to January 21, 2022 and ordered the accused to appear on that day to take a plea.