Ugandan businessman and boxer Shakib Cham Lutaaya has broken his silence following days of intense speculation surrounding his relationship with socialite and reality TV star Zari Hassan, insisting that he is still married despite the public breakup announcement that sent social media into a frenzy.
Speaking to Kenyan media amid the ongoing controversy, Shakib maintained that he remains married and is choosing to handle the situation with maturity and emotional restraint.
His comments have added a fresh twist to a story that has dominated entertainment headlines across East Africa over the past week.
The latest developments come just days after Zari announced that she and Shakib had parted ways after five years together, citing irreconcilable differences as the reason behind the split.
In a statement shared on social media, the couple appeared to indicate that the decision had been reached after careful reflection and discussion.
The statement read in part:
“After much thought and reflection, we believe it is best for us to part ways due to irreconcilable differences.”
The announcement shocked many fans who had followed the couple’s relationship journey since they went public with their romance and later formalised their union through a private Islamic Nikah ceremony in South Africa in 2023.
Shakib’s Contradictory Position
While the breakup statement suggested a mutual decision, Shakib’s recent remarks have painted a more complicated picture.
According to reports, Shakib told Kenyan media that he is still married and is approaching the matter as a mature man despite the widespread rumours and online speculation.
His position has left fans questioning whether the separation is final or whether there is still hope for reconciliation.
This is not the first time Shakib has appeared to distance himself from the narrative surrounding the breakup.
Shortly after the separation statement was released, he revealed in an interview with Uganda’s Galaxy FM that he had seen the announcement on social media just like everyone else.
“I also woke up and saw the message just like you did,” Shakib said at the time, raising eyebrows among followers who believed the statement had been jointly issued by both parties.
His comments fueled speculation that there may have been disagreements behind the scenes regarding how the breakup was communicated to the public.
Allegations and Online Speculation
The breakup has since been accompanied by a wave of allegations and counter-allegations circulating across social media and entertainment blogs.
In recent days, Zari has openly spoken about alleged infidelity within the relationship.
Meanwhile, some Ugandan media outlets have linked the reported breakup to claims that Shakib allegedly impregnated another woman.
However, those claims remain allegations and have not been independently verified.
Neither Shakib nor Zari has publicly confirmed the reports.
The controversy has kept fans glued to social media, with many dissecting every post and interview from the estranged couple in search of clues about what really happened.
A Relationship That Captivated East Africa
For years, Zari and Shakib have been among East Africa’s most talked-about celebrity couples.
Their romance attracted significant attention due to Zari’s celebrity status and her highly publicised past relationship with Tanzanian superstar Diamond Platnumz, with whom she shares two children.
Following her split from Diamond in 2018, many fans were eager to see whether her relationship with the younger Shakib would stand the test of time.
Despite facing numerous breakup rumours over the years, the couple repeatedly dismissed speculation and continued to showcase their love publicly through social media posts, vacations and appearances together.
Their wedding journey also became part of the storyline on Netflix’s reality series “Young, Famous & African,” further cementing their status as one of the region’s most visible celebrity couples.
Fans Hold Out Hope
The latest developments have left many supporters hopeful that the pair could eventually reconcile.
On social media, fans have continued to debate whether the breakup announcement was genuine or whether emotions simply boiled over amid private disagreements.
Others believe Shakib’s insistence that he is still married may signal that he is not ready to give up on the relationship.
The couple’s separation has generated widespread discussion across Kenya, Uganda, Tanzania and beyond, with celebrities and commentators also weighing in on the matter.
For now, however, neither Zari nor Shakib has provided a definitive explanation regarding the current status of their marriage.
As speculation continues to swirl, fans across the region remain eager to hear more from both parties and find out whether this is truly the end of one of East Africa’s most high-profile celebrity unions or merely another chapter in their complicated love story.
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