Ambassador Ogwang Files for Divorce, Cites Infidelity by Wife

By Max Patrick Ocaido

Former Uganda’s Deputy Ambassador to the United States, Dickson Ogwang has filed for divorce after enduring a ‘bad’ marriage for over 7years.

Ambassador Ogwang, who is now working in the Diaspora Department at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs has been married to Miriam Otengo, who also works with the same ministry until 2018 when the marriage collapsed after the latter accused the former of domestic violence while they were in the U.S, prompting the ambassador to be recalled.

Together, Ogwang and Otengo have two kids; aged 8 and 7years.

The two had their traditional marriage in 2011 before having a civil marriage on 9th  April 2014 at the Registry of Marriages in Kampala.

On Monday (December 09, 2019), Ogwang filed for divorce Cause no. 77 of 2019 in the Chief Magistrates Court, Mengo citing verbal assault from the respondent (Otengo) and involvement in extra-marital affairs.

“That while in Uganda, the respondent (Otengo) embarked on acts of inconsistent of (sic) a married woman. This included getting involved in extra-marital affairs with a Kenyan man she only called Onyango. She also got involved in partying, orgies and pornography,” Ogwang’s petition reads in part adding that due to the cruelty, assaults, slander, defamation, abusive phone messages and calls from Otengo, the marriage has “irretrievably broken down.”

Ogwang also accuses Otengo of harsh and cruel treatment including physical assaults, threatening violence and slander.

In his petition, Ogwang says that Miriam Otengo almost smashed his head with a bottle at Bukoto, tried doing the same while in Washington by throwing a heavy sound speaker aimed at his head and even gave him a surprise heavy slap while he was asleep. 

Otengo is also accused of abdicating her responsibility as a mother and wife by abandoning her children who were both under two years old and she returned to Uganda living the ambassador to hassle with kids in the US with only the help of a nanny.  

Since February 2018, Ogwang and Otengo have lived separate lives without any form of association and during the October 2018 clan meeting, the two agreed that their marriage had collapsed and that Ogwang would not demand the refund of dowry, but desired to have custody of his children as culture and custom demands.

In his petition, Ogwang demands to retain ownership of his Gayaza home so that he raises his two kids and that Otengo retains the property at Naalya with her other children.

Miriam Otengo, former Senior Private Secretary to the President is the young sister to Rebecca Amuge Otengo who is the current ambassador of Uganda in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia.

Efforts to reach Otengo on phone for a comment were futile by press time. Speaking to this reporter, Ogwang confirmed that he had indeed filed for a divorce and referred us to his lawyer for details.

Otengo is expected to file her defense before court sits to hear the matter in the first week of January 2020.