It’s happily ever for swapped wives
Steven Wesonga with his new wife Sarah Muduwa in Sironko District during the impromptu introduction ceremony. Muduwa was formerly married to David Woisi, a close friend of Wesonga. Photo by OLIVIER MUKAAYA
What you need to know:
What would you do if you discovered that the friend whose wife you have had an affair with for some time was doing the same with yours? Would you confront them, end the affair with his wife or separate with your own? Now, for these two couples in Sironko District after discovering they had been secretly sleeping with each other’s wives, they decided to swap them! Thus ending that affair!
She peeped through the window and caught a glimpse of her new home in Bukiise Sub-county, Sironko District.
Looking jolly and happy, Sarah Muduwa, 35, then emerges from the house to greet neighbours who had dropped in early in morning.
This home has become a scene of attention in the area following a wife-swapping deal, in which Muduwa was party.
The two men - close friends and business partners - swapped wives in order to settle a longstanding extra-marital affair.
This deal climaxed in a merrymaking function in the area where residents partied for three days.
The ceremony went without a glitch, with the ‘bride’ and ‘groom’ looking awesome!
We arrived to find family members and friends carrying wedding gifts in a procession to Muduwa’s mother’s home, a kilometre away. The home had been decorated.
Muduwa is now married to Steven Wesonga. She was formerly the wife to David Woisi with whom they have two children.
Annette Namataka, Wesonga’s former wife, with whom they have five children, is now married to Woisi.
Many residents who took part in the celebrations say the event could not have gone uncelebrated because it was the first of its kind in the district.
“What happened was a breaking point. Two men decided amicably that each should marry the other’s wife, after finding out that they were engaging in an extra-marital affair,” Rose Manyanya, the Busati parish women councillor, says.
Muduwa, who speaks proudly about her new marriage, says she is happy at last. “This is the home my heart has been longing for. I am happy to be together with the man I have loved at last. This was a personal decision, although my parents and relatives also supported my decision,” Muduwa, says with deep sigh.
She explained that her new husband has accepted to take care of Woisi children until when they are old enough. “He is a good man. He has no problem with the other man’s children.” She says the two children truly belong to Woisi and a DNA test is not necessary.
Besi Kanagwa, Muduwa’s mother, says she blessed the marriage because it was her daughter’s will. “I wish my daughter well that is why I blessed the marriage.”
Wesonga says unlike before when he was cohabiting, he is now customarily married.
“The good thing is that I am married customarily now, I am happy. I also wish my colleague success with his new wife- my former wife,” he said.
Wesonga, too, seems to have not met any hurdles with his decision as his father Boniface Wabukulu says his son was supported by most people, including relatives.
Muduwa, who refused to have an interview with this paper, had earlier told residents that she made the right decision. “I am married to the right man and I have no regrets.”
Woisi also said he was fine with the arrangement but expressed reservations on why his colleague was overly excited. “My colleague married my former wife and I also married his, but he is too excited.”
Condemnation
Ayub Magombe, a resident, termed wife-swapping as the highest form of immorality, which he said is unacceptable. “It’s morally wrong to exchange women. It sets a wrong precedent for the new generation.”
And Betty Nandudu, a resident, says it’s not enough to blame the couples but also act against wife-swapping. “I did not expect these old men to act like this in the public. People are now considering us immoral,” she says.
The Inzu Ya Masaba cultural leader, Umukukha Bob Mushikori, condemned wife-swapping saying it is backward and does not respect the culture of Bagisu [Bamasaba].
“When you choose to be introduced by a woman, you must also choose to live all your life with her irrespective of disease, poverty and this is cultural and traditionally accepted,” he said.
Village affair
Musa Gizamba, the Wasekesa village chairman, says the two had been close friends and business partners for 10 years. “Wesonga runs a restaurant and Woisi a shop. Woisi has been the sole food supplier to Wesonga’s restaurant and they had other business deals,” he says. Gizamba says the men were having an affair with each other’s wife which came to light when Woisi decided to marry his friend’s wife and his colleague in return declared his intentions to marry his.
He added that police had tried to intervene before to restrain the couples from destroying each other’s marriage in vain. “If they can settle it peacefully now, we have no problem,” Gizamba said.
Dan Ojambo, a resident, says the decision of wife-swapping was initiated by a group of residents who wanted to settle the rivalry that was brewing between the two parties. “This was the only way to settle them. We believe each is satisfied now,” he says. Ojambo said the decision was supported by residents who even collected more than Shs500,000 to meet Wesonga’s introduction needs. “We will even contribute towards their bride price when time comes,” he says.
Residents speak
“The women have brought shame upon us. I call upon other women to condemn it. Those men swapped wives under influence of villagers. ”
Ketty Nakeyenze, resident
“It’s a fine arrangement. They are happy now. The most important aspect in marriage is being with the person you love.”
Zainabu Nabuzale, resident
“We have agreed that the men take care of one another’s children. They have to assume the responsibility.”
John Nakayi, Salalira Trading Centre chairperson
