Mao officially divorces wife Naomi

The High Court in Kampala has officially allowed Democratic Party president Norbert Mao to divorce with his wife, Naomi Acheng Odongo.

Odongo in 2017 filed for divorce citing acts of cruelty from her husband which she said had forced their marriage to break down irreversibly and asked court to officially divorce them.

In response, Mao too admitted both lovers who had got married in August 2003 could no longer stay together.

On Friday, Justice Godfrey Namundi of the Family Division of the High Court ruled that according to circumstances and evidence brought to court, both people could no longer live together and separated them forever and officially.

“The evidence before this court shows that the petitioner and the respondent have been living separately for eight years, the respondent (Mao) having absconded from the matrimonial home leaving the petitioner (Naomi) with issues of the marriage,”Namundi said in his judgment.

“It is therefore a conclusion that both want divorce and their marriage cannot be redeemed.”

The judge however ordered Mao to relinquish their piece of land measuring one acre located in Gulu town at the senior quarters.

The judge has also ordered the DP president to give up on the motor vehicle (UAH 437H) he bought for Naomi.

Mao has also been ordered to live at their house in Ntinda Ministers village for a period of only three years before relinquishing it.

The property in Ntinda will however be transferred into the names of the two children bore by the couple , namely Nicholas Hope Mao and Nathan Hale Mao.

“As to the custody of the minor Nathan Hale Rwotber Mao, the parties agreed to have joint custody of the minor with the respondent having primary custody and the petitioner having reasonable access.”