Court Rejects Jalia Nagawa’s UGX 186 Million Monthly Maintenance Claim from Drake Lubega

Jalia Nagawa’s UGX 186 Million Monthly Maintenance Bid Turned Down by Court

In a recent development, the family court in Kampala has refused to grant Jalia Nagawa, the wife of City Tycoon Drake Lubega, a monthly maintenance fee of Sh186 million. Justice Elizabeth Kabanda dismissed Nagawa’s application, citing doubts about the validity of her marriage to Lubega, which is currently under review in a divorce petition. The court scheduled the divorce petition for a hearing on November 9, 2023.

Nagawa had sought the court’s intervention to compel her estranged husband to provide her with Sh186 million monthly for maintenance while the matter of their marriage dissolution remains unresolved.

Nagawa initiated the divorce proceedings in 2020, alleging cruelty on the part of her husband. During the application hearing, Lubega’s lawyer, Adam Kirumira, raised concerns about the constitutionality and availability of maintenance as a remedy before the court finalizes the divorce. Kirumira argued that a previous case established that maintaining a wife during divorce proceedings was unconstitutional. In response, Nagawa’s lawyer, Derrick Lufunya, clarified that the case had modified rather than nullified the remedy for maintenance pending divorce.

According to court documents, Nagawa and Lubega began their relationship in 1984 and officially married in 1989 through a Kiganda customary marriage in Banda, Nakawa division in Kampala. Nagawa accuses her husband of violent behavior, which led to the denial of conjugal rights, abandonment, slavery, and economic servitude. She also alleges that Lubega hindered her business opportunities and failed to account for the proceeds of their joint business ventures.

Nagawa now lives separately from her husband and claims that there is no hope of them reconciling as a married couple. She seeks a court decree to dissolve their marriage and determine the division of their matrimonial and business properties, as well as requesting Lubega to cover the costs associated with the petition.

Lubega’s response in his affidavit outlines that he had separated from Nalongo Peace Lubega in 1992 and began residing in Banda, Bweyogerere, where he cohabited with Nagawa for about a year until 1993 when they parted ways. Lubega contends that, given the short duration of their relationship, they never had any children or engaged in any joint business. He further states that he later met Benita Lubega in 1994 and married her in 2000.

Court documents also show that Benita Lubega filed for divorce in 2012, leading to the dissolution of their marriage. Lubega denies being cruel to Nagawa and claims that she left him without any communication since their separation. He asserts that he does not own most of the properties listed in Nagawa’s application.

Nagawa has identified 30 properties that she believes she worked hard for, without compensation, and has expressed her desire to claim at least five of them. These properties include Banda Club Ecstasy, Mukono Commercial Bank building, Go Down Bugerere, Muyenga land, Nakivubo Mews, Atlanta Plot 5, Cooper Motors Kampala, SB Plaza Kiyembe, Qualicel Building on William Street, Total Business Park, and Majestic Plaza.