A high-profile domestic dispute has rocked Kampala’s academic and social circles, as Prof. Badru Kateregga, founder of Kampala University (KU), levels serious accusations against his estranged wife, Jolly Shubaiha Kateregga. In a video that has since gone viral, Prof. Kateregga claims he was forcibly locked out of his Buziga residence and stripped of valuable personal and professional assets.
According to the professor, the fallout between the couple has escalated into what he describes as a “calculated heist.”
He alleges that Jolly not only denied him access to his home but also took off with high-value property, including: a Range Rover Vogue, a Toyota Land Cruiser V8, a Jeep,Multiple land titles,Academic documents and sensitive Kampala University records,Cash in Ugandan shillings and US dollars,Online learning platforms and systems.
“She blocked me from accessing my home. She took everything documents, vehicles, and money and smuggled it to Rwanda. My entire academic legacy and personal life are in chaos,” Prof. Kateregga lamented in his public statement.
The veteran academic also expressed deep frustration with the Criminal Investigations Directorate (CID) of the Uganda Police, accusing the agency of inaction despite what he claims were clear instructions from the Inspector General of Police.
“I’ve written. I’ve called. I’ve waited. But nothing has been done. Even after the IGP gave clear instructions, CID has done nothing,” he said.
In response, the Uganda Police Force issued a statement on July 25, 2025, confirming that the case had been logged under file number CID HQRS/GEF 306/204. However, the police clarified that, based on legal guidance from the Directorate of Public Prosecutions (ODPP), the matter is considered a civil dispute over property and management not a criminal case.
“The expectation by Prof. Kateregga that police or CID, in particular, has powers to remove Mrs. Jolly Kateregga from the premises is outside our mandate,” the statement read.
Police stressed that they cannot alter property possession without a court order and urged both parties to resolve the matter through proper legal channels.
The case has sparked intense debate on social media, with many questioning how high-value assets, including luxury vehicles and confidential academic records, could allegedly be moved across the border into Rwanda without detection.
Public opinion remains divided, with some rallying behind Prof. Kateregga and calling for greater accountability from law enforcement agencies.
As legal proceedings loom, Prof. Kateregga is expected to pursue the matter through the courts in an effort to reclaim his property and clear his name. The scandal continues to cast a long shadow over one of Uganda’s most influential academic families.
