)
)
Rumours about the two having a possible fling first came up months after the death of the Muslim cleric, Sheikh Muzaata.
The rumours were later to be amplified by Olaxes himself, who started commenting publicly about his closeness to the Sheikh's widow.
In May 2022, at her graduation ceremony, Olaxes, aka Jajja Ichuli told guests that he had “made himself available to comfort” Hajjat Kuluthum.
“He continued to do the same even on his livestreams, telling people that he was by my side, and that he was my comforter,” Kulthum told Bukedde TV this morning, May 10th, 2023.
In the interview however, the mother of one clarified that she was never involved in any romantic relationship with Jajja Ichuli.
Instead, she said, he was making the statements to stir up social media.
“I think he knew what social media wanted…he was just being funny,” she said.
“Because every time he was with me, he never brought that up. He was always serious with business. He was indeed a great friend,” she said.
First meeting
Kuluthum says she first met Ichuli through her late husband. The couple randomly stumbled on a video in which Ichuli was defending Muzaata.
After the Sheikh’s death in December 2020, Ichuli took it upon himself to defend the widow against incessant attacks, coming mostly from other Muslim leaders.
At some point, she recalls, one of the sheikhs had vowed to personally throw her and her son out of Muzaata’s house once the President lifted the Covid lockdown.
Amid the storm, Ichuli used his platform to take on the attackers.
Kulthum says at this point she decided to pick up the phone and call Ichuli and introduce herself.
As more phone calls followed and Ichuli continued to “inspire confidence” in her, Kuluthum says such was the genesis of their great friendship.
In 2022, Kulthum and Ichuli embarked on a joint project to support girls who were affected by the Covid lockdown.
The two also opened a YouTube channel through which they advanced this cause.
)
Kuluthum and Jajja Ichuli on their YouTube page
Now happily married to businessman Akram Gumisiriza, Kuluthum says she is still struggling to come to terms with the death of Jajja Ichuli.
“I cannot think of any person that will take her place in my life. He was the person I told so many secrets, and he always kept them.” she said.