Despite photos and videos of a lavish introduction (traditional marriage) ceremony of House of Prayer Ministry’s Pastor Aloysius Bugingo to his partner Susan Makula’s parents, Bugingo has denied that such a ceremony ever took place in a statement to police.
The Pastor who faces a five-year jail sentence for conducting a marriage ceremony when he is still legally married to his first wife Teddy Naluswa Bugingo says he was only invited as a guest to a function by Makula’s family. He did not specify which kind of function it was.
Bugingo made the police statement on December 22, following a case filed at Kawempe Police station by Naluswa, accusing him of having committed bigamy. Naluswa filed the case in her capacity as his lawfully wedded wife. The two have been living separate lives and Bugingo wanted divorce, though Naluswa refused to sign the divorce papers.
Bugingo has been publicly linked to Susan Makula and he made the relationship official by carrying out a traditional ceremony when he was introduced to her parents on December 7. However, in his police statement, Bugingo says he was only an invited guest at the party!
Bugingo and Makula were also dragged to court by lawyers Male Mabirizi and Robert Rutaro Muhairwe for breaching the marriage act.
The “couple” was charged with three counts contrary to the Marriage Act by Entebbe Grade One Magistrate Stella Okwong Paculal. To sign formal charges against Bugingo and Makula, the magistrate relied on information from Joseph Emuit, the village chairman of Bwerenga cell, Katabi town council where the introduction ceremony took place. The case is due for hearing on January 21.