Highlighting these two milestones on Sunday, the mother of five took to social media to look back at the harrowing experiences of her marriage that ultimately drove her away from the father of her children.
Daniella Atim, the estranged wife of Ugandan music icon Jose Chameleone, is marking 5 years since she relocated to the United States. She is also turning 40 later this year.
Daniella Atim and Jose Chameleone
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In an Instagram status, Atim revealed how she had endured a 16-year ordeal with domestic violence.
Now living in Minnesota with all her children, Atim talked of her struggles as a single mother and her quest for a safer, happier and more fulfilling life.
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“I moved to the US exactly five years ago and sought asylum from many things including domestic violence that I endured for 16 years,” she posted.
“I am a single mom raising my 5 kids on my own. Even though the age I am turning this year sounds too serious, I am choosing to relieve my early life while healing my nervous system. I am a beautiful work in progress Say no to domestic violence."
Daniella Atim
Pulse
The end of Atim's marriage to Chameleone came as a shock to many, with speculations rife about the reasons behind their split.
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However, subsequent revelations were to shed light on the gravity of her situation.
Atim disclosed last year that the primary reason for leaving Uganda and moving to the United States was to escape the cycle of domestic violence she faced at the hands of Chameleone.
Their marriage, once celebrated in the public eye, faced numerous challenges, exacerbated by Chameleone's excessive alcohol consumption. Atim recounted how Chameleone's drinking habits often led him to come home in the early hours of the morning, inebriated and incapable of caring for himself or their family.
Despite her pleas for him to change, especially for the sake of their children, her words fell on deaf ears, ultimately leading her to choose between her well-being and their tumultuous marriage.
Chameleone himself has opened up about the challenges of their long-distance marriage, stating that the decision for his family to relocate was made with their future in mind. He aspired for a better education for their children, away from the political and personal turmoil that marred their lives in Uganda.
