In a bid to set the record straight amid swirling rumors and public speculation, the Uganda Police Force has issued a detailed statement clarifying its role, in a high-profile domestic dispute between renowned academic and proprietor pf Kampala University Prof. Badru Katerega and his wife, Jolly Shubaiha Katerega.
The clarification follows a wave of social media posts and media reports dragging the force in the couple’s private affairs.
According to the police, such claims are not only misleading but also misrepresent the institution’s legal mandate.
“The Uganda Police has seen a statement circulating on social media and other media outlets concerning a dispute between Prof. Badru Kateregga and his wife Mrs. Jolly Shubaiha Katerega in which they drag police into their family dispute,” read the official police statement dated July 25, 2025.
Police say the domestic conflict was first brought to the attention of the police on November 7, 2024.
Upon receipt, investigators under the Criminal Investigations Directorate (CID) registered the case under file number CID HQRS/GEF 309/204.
The matter was then forwarded to the Directorate of Public Prosecutions (ODPP) for legal review and direction.
On February 8, 2025, the ODPP concluded that the dispute centered on issues of property ownership and management, matters that fall outside the jurisdiction of the police and are better addressed through civil litigation.
“The expectation by Prof. Kateregga that police or CID in particular has powers to remove Mrs. Kateregga from the premises is outside our mandate,” the statement emphasized. “The alteration of possession of property under dispute can only be effected by a court order.”
Police further underscored that both parties had been informed of this legal position through their respective legal counsel.
They warned that any demand for action outside of this framework, would not only be unlawful but could also set a dangerous precedent.
“As custodians of the law, we operate strictly within its boundaries,” the statement noted. “We work in close collaboration with institutions such as the ODPP, whose legal guidance we follow without deviation.”
Dismissing allegations that the force had either taken sides or failed to act, police reiterated their impartiality and commitment to due process.
They also urged the parties involved to seek redress through appropriate legal channels rather than public forums.
“Any notion that the police can override the opinion of the ODPP or carry out actions contrary to established legal procedures is unfounded,” the statement concluded.
