A Ugandan medical doctor, Dr Patrick Mbusa Kabagambe has been dubbed the “Runaway Groom” on social media after he failed to show up at his wedding.
Kabagambe reportedly ran away from his wedding to his friend’s house to rest because he was stressed.
Daily Monitor reports that Patrick and Christabella Banturaki were to set to tie the knot at All Saints Cathedral Nakasero in Kampala City last Saturday, April 10. The reception had been organised at Silver Springs Hotel in Kampala.
However, on the eve of the historic day, Dr Kabagambe disappeared and his mobile phone was switched off. This triggered panic, frantic calls, anxiety and confusion among his friends, family and in-laws.
His worried bride-to-be in the company of her uncle went to Kasangati Police Station, Wakiso District, where they opened a case of a missing person.
Detectives, relatives and friends began a frantic search for the would-be groom. Worried relatives flooded social media with messages announcing the sudden disappearance of Dr Kabagambe, imploring well-wishers to share information wherever he is spotted, dead or alive.
“Dr Patrick Mbusa Kabagambe has been reported missing with his car UBH 905X on the eve of his wedding this Saturday, 10 April 21, and all his known [telephone] contacts are switched off. The case has been reported at Kasangati Police Station, SD REF 22/10/04/2021. Patriots, let’s assist trace the suspect/victim,” a relative posted in a WhatsApp group last Saturday.
On the wedding day, Dr Patrick still didn’t show up, converting what should have been a blissful ceremony into an agonising blind search.
The bride, who had been informed hours earlier that her groom has yet to appear did not head to All Saints Nakasero Cathedral.
However, some relatives, unaware of the developments, appeared at the church for the scheduled wedding, only to find neither the bride nor the groom was present.
The search continued the following day, Sunday, April 11. But before the police could engage other tracking units to establish his last contacts, Dr Kabagambe presented himself at Wandegeya Police Station in Kampala.
The deputy spokesperson for Kampala Metropolitan Police, Mr Luke Owoyesigyire, who confirmed the incident on Monday, April 12, said Dr Kabagambe told detectives that he was not a missing person as reported to the Force, but elected to spend a night at the home of an undisclosed friend.
“He said he was stressed. He didn’t have a reason why he didn’t want to marry Ms Banturaki. We later released him on police bond as investigations continue,” Mr Owoyesigyire said.
However, there is no clear penal offence that the police can prefer against him given the fact that he claimed that he married Ms Banturaki in customary ceremony and even paid the bride price. In Uganda, the law recognises the customary marriage.
Mr Owoyesigyire said they are waiting for Ms Banturaki to record a statement with detectives to determine the next course of the case.
A close relative of Dr Kabagambe, who spoke to Daily Monitor, said the runaway groom is “traumatised” while the entire family is distressed over the flopped wedding.
