Kampala-based lawyer Deox Tibeingana has publicly revealed the collapse of his 28-year marriage, detailing a bitter fallout involving alleged betrayal, financial exclusion, and a high-stakes dispute over jointly linked business interests.
In a lengthy statement released on his 49th birthday, Tibeingana said his decision to speak out was driven by an imminent court process and the likelihood that details of the divorce would soon become public.
“Today marks my third anniversary of pure survival and the permanent closure of a 28-year chapter that I now realize was empty from the start. I am starting a new life, and from this day forward, my circle is strictly reserved for genuine people who love and respect me,” he stated.
The lawyer linked the breakdown of the marriage to disputes surrounding ownership and control of Rivonia Suites, a hospitality business he says he built from scratch through personal sacrifice and financial risk.
He claims to have invested over Sh800 million into the enterprise before handing over its management and later ownership to his spouse.
According to Tibeingana, the transfer of control eventually led to his exclusion from the company’s financial systems, including access to revenue and decision-making processes.
“I single handedly built the primary business enterprise, sank over 800 million of my own money into it, and took on heavy lines of credit to complete it. I handed the business straight to her and supported it for three solid years, only to later find myself completely locked out without accountability or access to any of the funds it generates,” he said.
He further alleged that financial decisions were made unilaterally, including the opening of new bank accounts and the sale of another business he financed, Axis Salon, without his knowledge.
Beyond finances, Tibeingana described the personal toll of the separation, claiming he was abandoned at a time when his businesses were struggling and his law practice had closed.
He said attempts to salvage the relationship through counselling were unsuccessful.
“You have not experienced the physical, financial, and mental reality of seeing your entire life work pulled away from you simply because you chose to blindly trust somebody you deeply cared about, but they only cared about themselves,” he added.
He also raised concerns about strained family relations, alleging he was excluded from major decisions involving his children, including education and key milestones.
Efforts to resolve the dispute outside court, including proposals for profit-sharing and mediation involving family members, reportedly failed. Tibeingana said this left him with no option but to pursue legal redress.
“I approached and proposed a 50-50 split of the profits on a monthly basis because the business generates significant revenue. But even in those meetings, there was outright refusal to address the issue of money, which made it clear that I had to seek justice through the courts,” he stated.
Despite the dispute, the lawyer acknowledged his own shortcomings, including business failures and financial strain, but maintained that these did not justify what he described as systematic exclusion from assets he established.
He credited friends, relatives, and even creditors for supporting him through what he termed a difficult period, saying their role was critical in his recovery.
The case is now expected to proceed through the courts, where both parties will have an opportunity to present their claims