The Citizen (Dar es Salaam)
Hudson Apunyu
1 July 2009
Oyam — Dr James Ocwa, the estranged husband of Apac Woman MP Betty Amongi, is demanding to be paid back the bride price he paid to the MP's father in 2003.
Ms Amongi and Dr Ocwa were married traditionally on July 19, 2003. Ten cows were paid to Ms Amongi's father, Mr Romano Ongom.
The couple has since separated and Ms Amongi is allegedly cohabiting with Lira Municipality MP Jimmy Akena with whom they have two children.
Dr Ocwa has instituted a case before the LC III court of Minakulu after Mr Ongom failed to appear before both the LCI and LCII courts last week.
The case will come up for hearing on Friday, according to sources familiar with the matter.
Dr Ocwa told Daily Monitor last week that his reason for divorce and the demand to have the 10 cows returned is because Ms Amongi has not been faithful.
"The woman now has another man and they have two children," he said.
At one time, Dr Ocwa accused Amongi of using charms, and conniving with thugs to rob him.
Since the marriage was traditional, Dr Ocwa went to LCI chairman of Akaidebe village in Adel Parish, Minakulu Sub-county to help him recover his wealth but Mr Ongom refused to appear, reportedly saying the matter is above the LCI.
The LCI chairman, Mr Geoffrey Ongom, referred the matter to LCII Adel Parish and still Ms Amongi's father did not respond to the summons. The LCII chairman, Mr Remijo Obong referred the matter to the LCIII Court.
When contacted, Ms Amongi told Daily Monitor on Sunday in a telephone interview that she did not know if Dr Ocwa was in the country or not.
When pressed further for comments, Ms Amongi said, "I don't want to be bogged down with the issue of Dr Ocwa, I have moved on. If he has not moved on, it's up to him," she said, before hanging up.
Dr Ocwa, with whom she has one child, lives in the US. Impeccable sources from Minakulu said MP Amongi has bought 30 cows and wants her father to pay Dr Ocwa his dues but the father does not want to.
Ms Amongi is not the first MP to be embroiled in extra-marital problems.
In 2007, Soroti District Woman MP Alice Alaso was accused by Christine Ikiria of snatching her husband, Mr Johnson Ebaju. Ms Ikiria attempted, albeit unsuccessfully, to block the wedding of the two.
She also complained that Ms Alaso does not know how to take care of children as a mother. She accused her of mistreating her children. The Nakawa magistrate requested the two to settle the matter out of court to avoid public disgrace and attain domestic peace.
In 2006, a Immaculate Elokait accused the State Minister for environment, Ms Jessica Eriyo, of 'grabbing' her husband. Local media later reported that Ms Eriyo was pregnant with Mr Osuna's child.
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