By Andrew Irumba
Kampala: Democratic Party (DP) president Norbert Mao’s marriage with Naome Mao Achieng is no more. The couple’s marriage has been dissolved by the High Court family division this afternoon.
Justice Godfrey Namundi dissolved the marriage in his judgment delivered on May 27th, 2019 basing on a petition filed by Achieng, accusing Mao of cruelty and desertion. Mao, who has 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 from the respondent (Mao) 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 shall continue occupying the house on Plot 58 Valley Drive in Minister’s Village Ntinda for the interest of their children for a period of three years, after which he will hand it over to Achieng. Court has also directed that the couple transfers the property in the names of the children. Justice Namundi also ordered Mao to relinquish to Achieng all his interest and the property comprised in plot 14 Kitgum Road, Gulu Municipality in Gulu District. Mao will also handover the motor vehicle registration number UAH 437Z to Achieng as requested in her petition she filed in 2017. This being a family matter, Justice Namundi declined to give orders for costs. Mao has been battling a divorce suit with Achieng for several years. The couple fell out some time back after Achieng abandoned a then bedridden Mao on his sickbed at their home in Gulu and went her own ways.
