Professor Badru Kateregga, the founder of Kampala University and a prominent businessman, has reportedly been granted access to his Buziga residence following a legal battle with his estranged wife, Jolly Shubaiha Irankunda.
The ruling, delivered by Grade One Magistrate Elisha Arinaitwe at the Makindye Magistrates Court, dismissed an application by Irankunda seeking to bar the 76-year-old professor from returning to his home.
The court found no legal grounds to deny him access to the property, which he claims to have built using his personal funds.
Magistrate Arinaitwe clarified that rights to matrimonial property can only be determined through formal legal processes such as divorce, judicial separation, or annulment not through interim protective orders.
The dispute stems from allegations of domestic violence and property conflicts that have played out publicly in recent months. Irankunda, who married Prof. Badru Kateregga in 2012 after meeting him as a student at Kampala University in 2010, has strongly denied all claims of wrongdoing.
In a previously issued statement, Jolly Irankunda accused the professor of tarnishing her reputation and attempting to forcefully remove her from their home after more than a decade of marriage. She stated that she played a significant role in the development of Kampala University, serving as Director of Finance, Marketing, and Budget, and contributing to its expansion into a multi-campus institution.
Irankunda also refuted allegations made by Prof. Badru Kateregga that she had assaulted him, attempted to poison him, or sought to seize control of his property. She cited toxicology reports and medical records which she claims disprove the poisoning allegations, and said that surgical scars from a previous health issue had been mischaracterized as signs of violence.
She further asserted that both the Police CID and the Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP) concluded there was no criminal case against her, classifying the matter instead as a domestic disagreement.
Regarding claims that she had held the professor hostage or restricted his communication, Irankunda insisted he continued to make public appearances, attend medical appointments, and travel freely during the period in question.
Additionally, she alleges that after Prof. Badru Kateregga left their home in September 2024, she was unlawfully removed from her leadership position at Kampala University through the use of forged documents. A forensic report dated February 27, 2025, reportedly supports her claim that her signature was falsified in the paperwork used to terminate her employment.
This legal and personal battle continues to unfold.
Daily Spear Ug will provide updates as new developments arise.