What began as a quiet marital separation has erupted into a storm of accusations between Kampala Woman MP Shamim Malende and her estranged husband, Andrew Ssebunya, with both publicly blaming each other for betrayal, harassment, and property disputes.
The drama burst into the open on Friday after Malende released a tearful video confirming the collapse of their marriage. In her statement, she accused Ssebunya of intimidation and controlling behaviour.
“I feel like I am living in captivity. My life is under threat,” the MP said, describing the situation as emotionally draining and unsafe.
Malende went further, alleging that Ssebunya had taken control of her verified Facebook page with over 250,000 followers, hijacked a second account, and seized two of her vehicles — a Toyota Harrier (UBK 862) and a Toyota Super Custom (UBD 850N). She hinted that there were other painful details she preferred not to share, saying: “There’s a lot behind the curtains, but I choose silence out of dignity as a Muganda woman.”
The legislator urged Ugandans not to work with her estranged husband and called on tech experts to help her reclaim her online platforms. She also asked for prayers from the public, framing her ordeal as part of a larger fight for women’s safety and dignity.
But Ssebunya hit back almost immediately. In an interview with BBS TV, he dismissed Malende’s claims as “falsehoods” and instead portrayed himself as the victim.
He accused Malende of orchestrating the removal of all household property from their home, even taking cameras on a tour of what he described as an emptied house.
“It’s as if that lady wants to see me completely destroyed,” Ssebunya said, vowing to defend his reputation against what he called deliberate character assassination.
Ssebunya said he and Shamim were renting in Nansana for Shs300,000 when she received Shs200 million from Parliament to purchase a vehicle, a moment he believes marked a turning point in their lives. While she wanted to buy the car outright, he advised her to use only Shs50 million for it and invest the balance.
Out of affection, Shamim also bought him a Toyota TX worth Shs23 million, but he declined to have the logbook registered in his name as a sign that he considers her property as theirs together. He added that, in truth, he personally owns nothing under his name.
The couple’s bitter fallout has since ignited a wave of online debate. Supporters of Malende sympathise with her concerns about digital security and emotional abuse, while others believe Ssebunya’s counterclaims show a more complicated picture.
As the feud plays out in public, it has raised broader questions about privacy, technology, and how personal relationships unravel under the glare of public scrutiny.
