Anglican priest defies court, weds couple
Ms Annet Ayesiga (L) and Mr Joseph Asiimwe exchange vows during their wedding at All Saints Church in Masindi at the weekend. Photo by George Muzoora
Masindi. On Valentine’s Day, residents of Masindi Town witnessed the controversial wedding of a renowned businessman, Mr Joseph Asiimwe, and Ms Annet Ayesiga.
The wedding was controversial because Grade One Magistrate Achoka Egesa had earlier blocked it. On February 12, Justice Egesa issued an interim order restraining Mr Asiimwe and Ms Ayesiga from wedding because their marriage was being challenged by Mr Asiimwe’s first wife, Ms Harriet Banura.
Court ruling
The magistrate ruled that the ceremony be halted until the main application is heard and disposed of. However, despite the court order, the leadership of All Saints Church in Masindi went ahead and wed the couple last Saturday.
Residents thronged the church to witness the ceremony, in anticipation of confusion and chaos but the wedding took place without incident.
The Archdeacon of St Mathews Cathedral, the Rev Amos Asaba, presided over the ceremony, claiming the church has got all the documents authorising the wedding.
“There have been allegations that I have been bribed. I am doing this basing on the constitution of the Church of Uganda,” he said.
The congregation cheered endlessly. The priest had earlier asked the congregation if anyone has any reason why the couple should not marry but no one made any objection. Even Ms Banura, whose house is located about 100 metres from the church, never turned up to disrupt the ceremony.
Ms Susan Zemei of Zemei, Aber Law Chambers, who is representing Ms Banura’s case, said: “I advised my client to remain at home and keep order. That’s why she never went to the church.”
Ms Zemei refuted allegations the court order had been cancelled but could not rule out foul play. “I don’t have any copies of the letters they claim to be having. Maybe the defence lawyer did things behind my back,” she said. She added that they are going to file a case in the High Court because they have lost confidence in the lower court.
Efforts to get comment from Mr Asiimwe were futile
The background
Ms Harriet Banura, Mr Asiimwe’s first wife, told Daily Monitor she married Mr Asiimwe in 1981 and that the two have 10 children. She, however, said their marriage started having problems about five years ago when Mr Asiimwe abandoned her for another woman. “I cannot endorse his wedding because I still love my husband,” she said.
She wants court to compel Mr Asiimwe to give her the land title of their marital house, among other properties.
