KAMPALA — Bishop Cornelius Kateregga Bakubanja, a senior cleric in the Orthodox Anglican Church of Uganda, has left the country in shock after opening up about a deeply personal struggle he has not shared intimacy with his wife since 2009.
The 68-year-old bishop, who has faithfully served the church and community for decades, revealed that behind his respected title lies a heartbreaking story of loneliness, betrayal, and rejection.
“I feel very thirsty. For 16 years I have lived like a man in the desert starving for love and peace,” Bishop Kateregga told journalists in an emotional interview.
Bishop Kateregga married his wife Zawedde nearly 40 years ago, and together they have six children. But according to him, the home that was once filled with love turned into a battlefield of endless conflict.
The bishop alleges that his wife and children not only denied him affection but also turned against him to take control of his wealth. He claims they even plotted to have him declared mentally ill so they could sell his properties.
“At one point, they wanted to take me to Butabika [Mental Hospital]. Can you imagine? The people I trusted most wanted to lock me away so they could share my sweat,” he said, his voice trembling.
Eventually, the bishop says he was chased out of his own house and now lives alone in a single room at one of his schools in Kyotera District.
Comparing his situation to Catholic celibacy, the bishop described his marriage as “togikwatako,” a Luganda phrase meaning “do not touch.”
“For 16 years, I have been living like a priest, but I am not a priest. I am a married man. It is not easy. People see us on the altar and think we are happy, but some of us are dying inside,” he said.
An insider close to the bishop, who preferred anonymity, told the media on August 29, 2025 in Kampala.
“This is not just about intimacy; it’s about dignity. The bishop feels humiliated and betrayed by the people he loved most. He has been carrying this pain in silence for too long.”
Despite the embarrassment that often surrounds such issues, Bishop Kateregga chose to speak out to encourage other men, especially religious leaders, to break the silence.
“Men suffer in silence because they fear shame. But hiding pain only kills you slowly. I want others to know that even we, the clergy, are human,” he said.
His story has sparked heated discussions across Uganda, raising questions about the hidden struggles of clerics, family conflicts over property, and the mental health toll on men trapped in broken marriages.
As Bishop Kateregga fights to reclaim his peace and dignity, his testimony stands as a bold reminder that no one no matter their title should suffer in silence.
