Jolly Shubaiha Kateregga, the estranged wife to Kampala University boss, Prof Badru Kateregga has spoken out following her fall out with her husband.
In a missive released to the media this week, Shubaiha tells a story of betrayal, greed, and the emotional distress she has gone through since her husband started to illegally accuse her of violent conduct.
“Throughout our marriage, I balanced this demanding work with my roles as wife, mother to our three children, and caregiver to Professor Kateregga during his numerous health challenges. I also oversaw the care of his mother. I remained committed to our home and family, even when our marriage
faced serious challenges—primarily due to his repeated infidelity, some of which involved university students,” Shubaiha said.
She says before she got married to Kateregga, the university was struggling.
However, when she was co-opted on tbe board of trustees as director marketing & finance, she oversaw the growth the university in Uganda and beyond.
“But they went ahead and forged my signature and locked me out of the university management,” she said.
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Below is the full statement
I wish to address the recent allegations made by my husband, Professor Badru Kateregga, which have been widely circulated in the media and online platforms. These allegations, claiming that I assaulted him and attempted to take over his businesses and property, are completely false, malicious, and have caused me and our children immense emotional and
psychological distress.
Our Relationship & Contribution to Kampala University.
I met Professor Kateregga in 2010 as a young university student. Despite my parents’ objections due to our age difference, I chose to marry him in 2012, believing in the love and future he promised. I committed myself wholly to our marriage and to supporting the growth of Kampala University, which was struggling at the time. As a member of the Board of Trustees, Director of Finance and Marketing, I worked tirelessly to stabilize and expand the institution, helping to pay off debts and grow student enrollment efforts that to the establishment of new branches in Uganda and beyond.
Throughout our marriage, I balanced this demanding work with my roles as wife, mother to our three children, and caregiver to Professor Kateregga during his numerous health challenges. I also oversaw the care of his mother. I remained committed to our home and family, even when our marriage faced serious challenges—primarily due to his repeated infidelity, some of which involved university students.
False Allegations & Health Misrepresentations
In September 2024, Professor Kateregga suddenly left our home, going to hospital and claiming he needed care from his older children. Unknown to me, he underwent medical tests at various hospitals. Contrary to allegations of assault, hospital reports confirmed he had blood clots, not injuries caused by violence. Scars from surgery to remove those clots are now being misrepresented as wounds I allegedly inflicted.
Despite claims that I held him incommunicado from June to September 2024, he was publicly active, attending functions, funerals, and even traveling abroad. These facts are on public record. It’s inconceivable that someone who was allegedly confined could appear freely at public events.
Business Disputes & Legal Action
The breakdown of our relationship appears tied more to business and property disputes.
Following our marriage in 2012, I was included in the ownership and management of Kampala University. I was formally co-opted as a company director, a member of the Board of Trustees, and took on the role of Director
of Finance and Marketing, a position I executed with dedication to the growth and success of the institution.
Amidst later family discord, Professor Kateregga, alongside others, forged my signature and unlawfully removed me from my roles at Kampala University. I was denied access to university premises and accounts, despite being a director and an instrumental part of its growth.
I find it unfortunate and misleading that Professor Kateregga is now publicly
accusing me of attempting to take over his businesses, despite my rightful involvement and long-standing contribution to Kampala University.
I have since sought legal redress through the High Court (Civil Suit No. 0143 of 2025) and the Family Court for child maintenance (Family Cause 316 of 2024).
The Director of Public Prosecutions reviewed the criminal file against me and found no grounds for prosecution, confirming that the matter is a civil family dispute not a criminal case.
Emotional Toll & Plea for Justice
These unfounded accusations have deeply affected me and our children.
We’ve been harassed, humiliated, and subjected to false and degrading narratives. The recent DNA testing, which I did not oppose, was conducted under intimidating circumstances, further traumatizing our children.
My only “crime” seems to be that I am a woman, a wife of Rwandan origin,
who dared to stand up for herself and her children. I trusted, served, supported my husband in all ways possible. I now ask the media and the public to consider the facts and refrain from judging me based on one-sided accounts.
I remain committed to seeking justice through the appropriate legal channels. I only ask for fairness, dignity, and the opportunity to tell my story without fear or persecution. My prayer is for the truth to be known and God to vindicate me and my children.
Issued by:
Mrs. Jolly Shubaiha Kateregga
