{"id":14027,"date":"2019-08-30T09:45:37","date_gmt":"2019-08-30T06:45:37","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.mywedding.co.ug\/?p=14027"},"modified":"2023-05-30T10:09:07","modified_gmt":"2023-05-30T07:09:07","slug":"edwin-musiime-talks-marriage-divorce-and-new-beginnings","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.mywedding.co.ug\/?p=14027","title":{"rendered":"Edwin Musiime talks marriage: the joys, challenges and more"},"content":{"rendered":"

By Desire Mbabaali<\/strong><\/p>\n

Barely a week after their wedding, we managed to squeeze time into their very tight schedule to meet the Musiimes at their beautifully designed three-storey house in Buziga, which Edwin now calls home.\"\"<\/p>\n

We find the couple organising an appreciation goat roast for close friends and family. With all the preparations and cooking going on, it is hard to steal Christabel from the kitchen but Edwin leads me on to the terrace where I make myself comfortable and not before long, he joins me with apologies that we won\u2019t be starting the interview with his wife, but rather, she would join us later.<\/p>\n

Considering the probing and negativity that has been making rounds on social media about their union, I set out to start the interview with caution, however, by the look of things, Edwin is calm and ready to share.<\/p>\n

Marriage\"\" <\/strong><\/p>\n

Starting with the biggest elephant in the room, I, on behalf of all the questioning voices ask Edwin what went wrong in his first marriage.<\/p>\n

With a deep breath and a low but collected tone, he replies,<\/p>\n

\u201cI don\u2019t want to go into extreme details of what did or did not happen in my first marriage. I have seen a number of criticisms on social media but life has got its numerous challenges. If there is anyone in life who aspires for perfection, that is me and when I set out in that marriage, I wanted it to be the very best\u2026 but there is a way life panels out and you can never know what tomorrow holds whether Christian, non-Christian, pastor, non-pastor, believer, non-believer, priest, or any social class.\u201d<\/p>\n

The allegations<\/strong><\/p>\n

\"\"
Musiime’s ex-wife Isabella Lydia Masozera.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Edwin doesn\u2019t hesitate to comment on the controversies surrounding his first marriage.<\/p>\n

\u201cThere have been all these false allegations; some saying I was gay in my marriage! Never!,\u201d he says, spitting out the words and adding, \u201cApart from spelling the word gay, I would never imagine being one. I condemn, highly, gay-ism \u2013 I don\u2019t condemn gay people. You hate the sin, you don\u2019t hate the sinner. I will be honest with you, it disgusts me to be called that \u2013 horrible!\u201d<\/p>\n

About allegations that he left his wife because she had gained weight, Edwin shakes his head and says, \u201c\u2026Those are silly phrases that people come up with! Unfortunately, we are in a world of social media where people pick up a headline from any media outlet and run with that.\u201d<\/p>\n

He also reminisces a time when \u2018some\u2019 newspaper ran a headline: \u2018Pastor Edwin the worst dad, says ex-wife\u2019 that was followed with accusations of abandonment and neglect of his family.<\/p>\n

\u201cBut the day that headline broke, I had just picked my daughter from school when someone called me about it. I went to the supermarket and picked the newspaper, and I was crying. Through my shades, my daughter could see the tears. She asked me, \u2018What\u2019s wrong dad?\u2019 and I told her I had splashed something in my eye. Now, this paper was condemning me of being the worst dad, according to my ex-wife \u2013 who had said nothing to them!<\/p>\n

I am not trying to victimise myself here, but I have been a victim of all sorts of media statements,\u201d Edwin says.<\/p>\n

The divorce\"\"<\/strong><\/p>\n

\u201cNo one ever walks down the aisle in anticipation of a divorce, and I hate how people satirise it or put it out like it is an adventure. Divorce is so painful. I could say that our first two years of separation with Isabelle were the most painful seasons I have ever experienced in life. For a whole year, we tried to fix things, and it just wouldn\u2019t work. I can\u2019t explain much of why it couldn\u2019t work, but it just couldn\u2019t,\u201d he says, with a pained face.<\/p>\n

Quickly, he highlights that he doesn\u2019t condone or encourage divorce, neither does he wish it for anybody.<\/p>\n

Co-parenting<\/strong><\/p>\n

\u201cPeacefully, we agreed to go our separate ways and the divorce was finalised two years ago. At the moment, she has moved on with her life and she is happy, and I have moved on with mine and I am happy. I repeat, divorce is a nasty thing and whereas people may have imaginations and thoughts that I chose the easy way out, that\u2019s not the case. There was no easy way out. It has been tough on our little girl and I bless God that she came out strong,\u201d he pointedly says.<\/p>\n

Edwin also shared that fortunately for them, they have been able to forge a way for the sake of their daughter.<\/p>\n

\u201cWe have open communication, we talk about everything about our daughter, and whatever happened then, happened then, and regardless of any condemnation anyone would want to lay on us, we are okay. Personally, I have gone before God. I have repented and reconciled with my God. Now, about the men and women out there, I don\u2019t give much of a care,\u201d Edwin blatantly says.<\/p>\n

New beginnings\"\" <\/strong><\/p>\n

Its new beginnings now for the couple, and I want to hear about the genesis of this love story and how they met, so I ask.<\/p>\n

\u201cMy company, Crest Group, was recruiting a Brands Manager and a content Manager for The Property Show. We had interviews and Christabel got the job. That was three and a half years ago,\u201d he recalls.<\/p>\n

A year later, Christabel grew into being the co-host of The Property show with Edwin and they both note that they maintained a professional relationship.<\/p>\n

“I am a person who appreciates a young family, being able to raise my children and grow together with them, so I started seriously feeling that I needed to have someone in my life. The trouble was, I am always on the plane and while in town, I am always between home and work. I had no time for dating and a few times my friends would set me up for blind dates, I was too picky,\u201d he frankly explains.<\/p>\n

\u201cAs time evolved, Anita who happens to be my best friend, [and best lady] would joke that, \u2018Mr CEO, that lady\u2026\u2019 and I would tell her, \u2018C\u2019mon Anita, no! Our offices at Tirupati Mall are opposite Anita\u2019s office and Christabell would constantly receive flowers. Anita would jokingly say, \u2018Edwin, you are going to wake up one day when someone has taken that girl, and you are going to kick yourself so hard\u2019 But still, I said no,\u201d Edwin shares.<\/p>\n

Before long, he started to notice Christabell and how hardworking and passionate she was. About a year and a half ago, the two became closer friends, away from work.<\/p>\n

\u201cWe would have coffee meetings outside work, talk and catch up.<\/p>\n

But one day, while travelling to the US, it hit him! The realization that what he was looking for too badly from outside, was within.\"\"<\/p>\n

\u201cSo, I started to think about Christabell in another way. When I came back, I asked her out for a date. That was in October last year. On the same date, I told her that I liked her and that I was having this idea of \u2018us\u2019. She told me, \u2018you know I work for you, and with you.\u2019 And I told her, where is that written that we can\u2019t be together? Edwin shares. And whereas he knew about the \u2018no dating at work\u2019 rule in the corporate world, he wasn\u2019t one to be confined by it.<\/p>\n

A month and a half later, when he met with Anita and told her that he wanted to propose to Christabell, she was equally surprised.\u00a0 \u201cWhen she asked whether I was sure, and I was, we set up the engagement a few weeks after Christabell\u2019s birthday in the guise of celebrating her belated birthday. I got on one knee, asked her to marry me and she said yes,\u201d and the rest is history, says Edwin.<\/p>\n

The wedding <\/strong><\/p>\n

Why not church\"\" <\/strong><\/p>\n

Another of the numerous questions on social media was why the Musiimes never had a church wedding as he did during his first wedding and he throws light on the same.<\/p>\n

\u201cOn Thursday, 8, we had our civil vows at URSB. All marriages in all churches of every denomination have to be validated by the same office. The only difference is that I chose to go there physically and have my certificate there and then. That same Saturday, we went for our pre-wedding boat cruise and chose Kampala Serena to have our wedding vows. What does the bible say? Where two or three gather in my name, I will be there in their midst. All I needed was God\u2019s presence, and for all the people who say that Jesus was not there, oh did I feel him,\u201d Edwin says.<\/p>\n

He added that Pastor Bruce and Sharon Oliver who led the service at the Serena are his mentors.<\/p>\n

\u201cWe had pre-marital counselling with them for three weeks earlier in June, and we are planning on having post-marital counselling with them again in Dubai. They have been there with us through it all, so to us, everything went in accordance with the word,\u201d he says with confidence.<\/p>\n

Having a best lady?\"\" <\/strong><\/p>\n

When it came to talking about his choice of a best man, again, Edwin was shocked that the world was up in arms over this.<\/p>\n

\u201cMy definition of a best man was simple: this best person in my life, someone who has got my back, cares about me, prays with me through things, has been there through my thick and thin, and that is Anita to me. But we are in a society that does not believe that a male can have a best friend being a lady and the reverse, but that is not my thought process. Fortunately for me, Anita was equally a close friend to Christabel, so the moment my bride was okay with it that was it. And about how she dressed; a lady who is going to work can put on trousers but when it is Musiime\u2019s wedding, it’s evil?\u201d he wonders.\"\"<\/p>\n

\u2026\u2026\u2026\u2026\u2026\u2026\u2026\u2026\u2026\u2026\u2026\u2026\u2026\u2026\u2026\u2026\u2026..<\/p>\n

What Christabel says\"\"<\/strong><\/p>\n

Amidst the busy afternoon preparations, Christabell was able to join us and she seems equally calm and welcoming. She also doesn\u2019t differ from Edwin about how everything started.<\/p>\n

\u201cWhen he invited me for dinner, I was walking on eggshells of; dinner \u2013 you like me, or dinner- we are seeing a client? I then asked him which client we are meeting, and he said, \u2018just me and you.\u2019 It was just shocking! Apart from work and clients what else was there to talk about?<\/p>\n

But things progressed in a funny way because we were already friends. His young daughter was a close friend to me. When I say young and close friend, it sounds weird to many, but though young, she has her own mind and her own thinking. So it was easy for me to fall in love with her.<\/p>\n

Of course, there was tension of, \u2018now I am treading on a thin line, this is my boss and then he is asking me out\u2019 Yes, the feelings were there, but there was that fear of; \u2018what are my fellow employees going to say, and all that.\u2019<\/p>\n

Christabell doesn\u2019t look at Musiime\u2019s first marriage like most people do.<\/p>\n

\u201cI look at it as a part of his life that he once had but is now something different. I believe he doesn\u2019t see her as his first wife because she is still in our life. So, there is no first, there is no second, we are one big family.<\/p>\n

We decided to have a friendship. I remember when he asked to date me, I talked about it with her [Isabelle]. She was okay with us dating which was a good thing.\u201d<\/p>\n

Work\"\"<\/strong><\/p>\n

Christabel explains that there is nothing that is going to change at work.<\/p>\n

\u201cIn the office, I am the Brands Manager, I am a co-host. He is my boss, my CEO, so, there is nothing more I am anticipating, \u201cshe says.<\/p>\n

\u201c<\/strong>And while the world rumbles on, on social media, we are fine and happy,\u201d Edwin concludes.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

By Desire Mbabaali Barely a week after their wedding, we managed to squeeze time into their very tight schedule to meet the Musiimes at their beautifully designed three-storey house in Buziga, which Edwin now calls home. We find the couple organising an appreciation goat roast for close friends and family. With all the preparations and […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":14519,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"jnews-multi-image_gallery":[],"jnews_single_post":{"source_name":"","source_url":"","via_name":"","via_url":"","override_template":"0","override":[{"template":"1","single_blog_custom":"","parallax":"1","fullscreen":"0","layout":"right-sidebar","sidebar":"default-sidebar","second_sidebar":"default-sidebar","sticky_sidebar":"1","share_position":"top","share_float_style":"share-monocrhome","show_share_counter":"1","show_view_counter":"1","show_featured":"1","show_post_meta":"1","show_post_author":"1","show_post_author_image":"1","show_post_date":"1","post_date_format":"default","post_date_format_custom":"Y\/m\/d","show_post_category":"1","show_post_reading_time":"0","post_reading_time_wpm":"300","show_zoom_button":"0","zoom_button_out_step":"2","zoom_button_in_step":"3","show_post_tag":"1","show_prev_next_post":"1","show_popup_post":"1","number_popup_post":"1","show_author_box":"0","show_post_related":"0","show_inline_post_related":"0"}],"override_image_size":"0","image_override":[{"single_post_thumbnail_size":"crop-500","single_post_gallery_size":"crop-500"}],"trending_post":"0","trending_post_position":"meta","trending_post_label":"Trending","sponsored_post":"0","sponsored_post_label":"Sponsored by","sponsored_post_name":"","sponsored_post_url":"","sponsored_post_logo_enable":"0","sponsored_post_logo":"","sponsored_post_desc":"","disable_ad":"0"},"jnews_primary_category":{"id":"","hide":""},"footnotes":""},"categories":[524],"tags":[],"ppma_author":[1784],"class_list":["post-14027","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-real-stories"],"authors":[{"term_id":1784,"user_id":1,"is_guest":0,"slug":"weddingadmin","display_name":"weddingadmin","avatar_url":"https:\/\/secure.gravatar.com\/avatar\/cd3996c46efafdc40969010bfd78c8e4dda9d99318e7dd6403983ea0dadbcfce?s=96&d=mm&r=g","author_category":"","first_name":"","last_name":"","user_url":"","job_title":"","description":""}],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.mywedding.co.ug\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/14027","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.mywedding.co.ug\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.mywedding.co.ug\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.mywedding.co.ug\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.mywedding.co.ug\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcomments&post=14027"}],"version-history":[{"count":26,"href":"https:\/\/www.mywedding.co.ug\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/14027\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":24039,"href":"https:\/\/www.mywedding.co.ug\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/14027\/revisions\/24039"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.mywedding.co.ug\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/media\/14519"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.mywedding.co.ug\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=14027"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.mywedding.co.ug\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcategories&post=14027"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.mywedding.co.ug\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Ftags&post=14027"},{"taxonomy":"author","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.mywedding.co.ug\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fppma_author&post=14027"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}