Kampala, Uganda – A legal dispute involving Nyendo-Mukungwe Member of Parliament, Matthias Mpuuga Nsamba, has reached the Catholic Church’s Marriage Court at Lubaga Cathedral, where a petition has been filed against him for allegedly breaching the Church’s marriage laws by remarrying while still married.
The petition, filed by Julius Ssentamu, a baptized and practicing Catholic, claims that Mpuuga has taken a second wife, Ann Nancy Nambuusi and fathered children with her, in violation of Catholic doctrine that prohibits polygamy and adultery.
Despite this, Ssentamu argues, Mpuuga continues to fully partake in Holy Communion, which the Church prohibits for individuals engaged in adulterous relationships.
Ssentamu’s formal complaint, addressed to the Judicial Vicar and Head of the Ecclesiastical Court and Marriage Tribunal, Rev. Fr. Barnabas Mukiibi Bakumpe, calls into question Mpuuga’s participation in sacramental rites.
According to Church teachings, those who have committed adultery must repent and cease their sinful behavior before they can receive Holy Communion again.
“I write to formally petition Mpuuga, a baptized Catholic who practices Catholicism both in Kampala and the Masaka diocese, that despite being a married man, he has a second wife with children but fully partakes in the Holy Communion, which is prohibited by the Church laws,” the petition read.
Court Takes Preliminary Action, Awaiting Archbishop’s Guidance
Following the initial hearing on November 8, 2024, at Lubaga Cathedral, the court allowed Ssentamu to make preliminary submissions.
However, the court determined that such serious petitions, especially those involving possible suspension or expulsion from the Catholic Church, require further guidance from the Archbishop.
The hearing of the petition has thus been postponed pending the Archbishop’s input.
Polygamy is strictly prohibited by Catholic canon law, as it is seen as a grave violation of the sanctity of marriage.
If Mpuuga is found to have knowingly violated these laws, he could face suspension or even expulsion from the Church.
The Church’s Position on Holy Communion
Catholic canon law underscores the gravity of adultery, emphasizing that those who commit such acts are barred from receiving Holy Communion unless they repent and abandon the sinful relationship.
The Church teaches that partaking in Communion unworthily is a serious offense, damaging the sanctity of the sacrament.