The Registered Trustees of the Church of Uganda and Kampala Diocesan Secretary are in trouble after a couple dragged them to court seeking compensation of Shillings 600million for the losses and mental breakdown resulting from cancellation of their wedding, 48 hours to the event over unfounded rumors.
Benson Muhwezi and Sophie Akankwasa, through their lawyers of Mujurizi, Alinatwe & Byamukama Advocates, say they fulfilled all the necessary requirements for holy matrimony including the banns of marriage for 21 days as required by law.
However, the couple was left in shock when on November 28, 2019, they, “without a valid reason and without fair hearing” heard that their wedding was halted following a directive from the Kampala Diocesan Secretary, Reverend Canon John Awodi.
This, according to Muhwezi, landed them into irrecoverable losses as they had already paid all service providers.
According to a letter written by Canon John Awodi to Rev. Kenneth Karyeija, the Vicar St. Stephen’s Kitara Church of Uganda, the couple’s wedding was put on hold over an alleged customary marriage with a one Sarah Kemigisha.
According to Reverend Canon Awodi, the church had received an objection from Kemigisha against the marriage of the couple, claiming that she was legally married to Muhwezi in a customary marriage since 2001.
This, the Church said stopped it from proceeding with the said marriage since Kemigisha had also complained that the issues relating to the custody of their two children hadn’t been resolved.
“Due to these issues therefore, I direct that the said wedding be put on hold until these matters are amicably resolved. I also request that you furnish this office with all documents that have been tendered by the said Muhwezi Benson and Akankwasa Sophie as soon as possible,” part of Rev. Awodi’s letter read.
He further warned that, going ahead with the said wedding prior to the matters being resolved shall be an illegality.”
Now, the couple’s lawyers note that as a result of this directive, their wedding was cancelled and that their clients went through mental breakdown, anguish and devastation plus being named thieves from people who had given contributions for their wedding reception. “Our clients believe they are entitled to damages from you for your acts and omissions,” says Tumwesigye in the demand notice.
Also, the notice issued on Monday February 17 demands that the church publishes an apology to the couple and pay them legal fees of Shillings 10M, and that if the notice is not honored within 14days from the date of receipt, the firm instructions are to commence civil proceedings against the Church’s own cost, peril and embarrassment.
The couple argues that they met in 2014, started a relationship, cohabited and had two children before seeking to get married. They allegedly spoke to church leaders at St. Stephen Kitara Church of Uganda in Katwe and were told that Muhwezi’s old relationship wouldn’t affect their wedding.
At St. Stephen Kitara Church of Uganda along Entebbe road, church leaders acknowledged the matter but insisted that they couldn’t proceed to wed the couple since there were contentious issues to sort out as raised by their superiors at Diocese.
