The Minister of Justice and Constitutional Affairs, Norbert Mao, has visited the parents of his long-time fiancée, Beatrice Kayanja, in Najjanankumbi along Entebbe Road.
Mao, who is also the president of the Democratic Party, was on Sunday (February 25) accompanied by the Deputy Speaker of Parliament, Thomas Tayebwa, and Mbarara North MP, Robert Rukaari, among others.
When contacted, Mao said that the visit was OK.
“It was a visit to parents; introduction will be later in the year. This is our tradition; we are Africans,” he said.
Beatrice, who used to be Mao’s research assistant, separated from her husband Martin Kayanja after she successfully filed a divorce petition at the Family Court in Makindye, Kampala, in February 2021.
She, for instance, told the court that Kayanja had been very quarrelsome and disrespectful to her and had on several occasions belittled her before her children and the public.
The court ruled in her favour, but the judgment was never made public.
It should also be noted that In December last year, Martin Kayanja, when being divorced by his wife Beatrice, accused Norbert Mao of calling his wife late in the night.
“I told her to tell him to call at reasonable hours and not those designated for the family, in vain,” he said.
Kayanja married Beatrice in 2004 after she separated from the father of her first three children, court documents indicated.
He claimed that because of continuous night calls, he allegedly sent a voice recording to Mao, cautioning him about it.
Despite Beatrice calling herself the research assistant, Kayanja argued that the title was a cover for their extra-marital relationship.
Kayanja said his wife is a novice in politics and does not have any experience in any research-related work.
Kayanja said his wife escorted Mao to critical DP meetings despite not being a member of any party organ.
He cited the launch of the DP manifesto ahead of the 2021 presidential elections as one such meeting.
Court dissolves Norbert Mao’s 16-year marriage with Naomi Achieng
In May 2019, the High Court (Family Division) dissolved the marriage of Democratic Party (DP) president Norbert Mao to Naomi Achieng Adong.
Justice Godfrey Namundi dissolved the marriage in his judgment delivered on May 27, 2019, on a petition filed by Achieng accusing Mao of cruelty and desertion.
Mao, who had three children with Achieng following their civil marriage on August 8, 2003, is said to have deserted his wife for eight years.
“The evidence before this court shows the petitioner (Achieng) has been living separately for eight years. The respondent has absconded from the matrimonial home leaving the petitioner (Achieng) with the issues of marriage”, said Justice Namundi as he delivered his judgment.
According to the judgment, Mao continues occupying the house on Plot 58 Valley Drive in Minister’s Village, Ntinda for the interest of their children for three years.
The court has also directed that the couple transfer the property in the names of the children.
Justice Namundi has also ordered Mao to relinquish to Achieng all his interests and the property comprised of Plot 14 Kitgum Road in Gulu Municipality.
Mao was also ordered to hand over the motor vehicle registration number UAH 437Z to Achieng as requested in the petition she filed in 2017. It being a family matter, Justice Namundi declined to give orders for costs.
Background
In 2017, Achieng dragged Mao to court seeking orders for the sole custody of their children and that Mao be given access to them.
She also sought an order for maintenance of the children and that Mao surrenders vehicle registration number UAH 437Z. Achieng also demanded that the property in Ntinda be registered in her name.
She argued that she contributed to the construction of the house in Ntinda by buying wardrobes, cabinets and other property.
Mao contested the allegations of cruelty and approved the divorce arguing that Achieng had deserted their home leading to an irretrievable breakdown of marriage.
Mao also prayed that the marriage between him and Achieng be dissolved. He asked the court to give him primary custody of the children and that Achieng be given reasonable access to them.
He also asked that the Ntinda property be put in the names of the children and willingly accepted to relinquish all his interests in and transfer their property in Gulu measuring an acre of land.
Mao also agreed to surrender the vehicle requested by Acheing, saying he bought it for her.
As part of his evidence, Mao tabled evidence before the court for the purchase of the Ntinda property, saying that as a politician he saw the widows of the house being dispossessed and decided that they become joint tenants for the sake of the family.
The duo had to buy a house from one Azu. Mao paid Shs 35 million as they were still cohabiting in 2002 using part of the salary he obtained from parliament as a legislator.
He, however, says he added Achieng’s name on the property title for the reasons stated.
Mao obtained a mortgage of Shs 60 million from DFCU Bank and an additional loan from Centenary Bank to roof the house.
It was only in 2007 that he cleared the loan using his gratuity from parliament, according to the evidence in court.
Mao applied for the property in Gulu valued at Shs 400m from Gulu Municipal Council and paid the premium in 2007. He invited Achieng to sign the papers while renewing the lease in 2013 so that she doesn’t go empty-handed.
The court set out to determine the property distribution and who of the couple should take custody of their youngest child. In his judgment, the judge noted that the applicant didn’t take any evidence proving the allegations of cruelty against Mao as alleged.
“It is evident that the marriage between the petitioner (Achieng) and the respondent (Mao) has irretrievably broken down. It is accordingly a foregone conclusion that both parties want a divorce and their marriage cannot be redeemed”, said Namundi.
He ordered that Mao stay with the minor since it is improper to halt the environment the minor is used to.