Rukiga, Kigezi Sub Region: A church Warden who doubles as a district Councillor in Rukiga District Hon. Tumukunde Adrine in her late 40’s has denied her biological daughter to create a way for a new marriage.
Tumukunde, a resident of Nyabweshogwize cell, Kitoha Parish, Kaharo Sub County in Kabale district and also NRM Secretariat member in Rukiga District is said to have been telling the public that she doesn’t have any child ever since she was born neither has she ever joined any marriage.
Her biological sibling a one Twikirize Jacklin Maria 42 told the press that Tumukunde was legally married Tumwebaze Mercy a resident of Rwesasi cell, Kitoha Parish in Kaharo Sub County of Kabale district in 1996 where God blessed them with three children before giving birth to the one in question whom she personally told her husband that she was out of the wedlock.
Twikirize went ahead to name the latter’s children but we preferred anonymity given the strength of the allegation and their future.
Another sister to Adrine, who identified herself as Rukundo Anna and the family’s last born told our reporter that she went with Adrine in Hospital in 2010 when she was producing her now 12 year old she is denying.
Rukundo adds that after giving birth to this girl, the one Tumukunde claimed to be the father the child denied her stressing that she’s not his, prompting the wife to an extent of throwing the child away.
Rukundo further alleges that at the 9th month, the child was dumped at Bruce’s House in Mparo, whom she insisted was the father of the Child.
Rev Rutosha Jackson of All Saints Church Muhanga told this reporter that he on Friday night last week got a phone call that there were two children, a girl and a boy claiming to be Adrine Tumukunde’s, his church Warden looking for assistance.
Rev Rutosha said that he couldn’t receive the children having received a call at night and called upon the caller to stay with them until Sunday when the one in question was brought to the church and put in the hands of Faith Ruhigyira where she is being taken care of.
Faith Ruhigira, now the caretaker and a resident of Kitaburaza, Butare Ward in Muhanga Town council told our reporter that she got concerned seeing the young girl suffering adding that upon calling the said mother, she denied the daughter.
Ruhigira adds that she reported the child to the Police on top of reporting to the Probations officer Rukiga District Ms. Pamela Kembabazi who in turn called the mother and she again denied knowing the child.
A homeless girl told our reporter that Her mother “Tumukunde Adrine” once told her not to call her am mother but rather an aunt in a way that if Men Knows that she has a child, they may not carry on with the marriage.
The girl now calls upon leaders and government officials to join hands in convincing her mother to welcome her so that she can report back to school.
It is also suspected that Hon. Tumukunde, who claims to be a degree holder, only stopped her education in senior three according to the public. She recently organised a graduation party which was attended by the church leaders and believer of all saints Church Muhanga who were later shocked after noticing that there was nothing like a graduation.
Our attempts to get a comment from Tumukunde were futile as our repeated phone calls went unanswered.