Juliet Mbabazi says she met Travis Preston in Mbarara, married him, and had two children with him. Now she says he is back in the United States and has stopped answering her calls. She is asking anyone who knows where he is to help find him.
Mbabazi, who lives in Mbarara, a city in western Uganda, said she and Preston were married for about two years. They have two children, aged three and seven. She said the marriage collapsed after Preston returned to the US, and that he has since cut off financial support, leaving her to raise the children alone.
"I loved him, but he left me to struggle with our two children," she said in a public appeal.
The story has spread across Ugandan social media, with users calling on authorities to trace Preston, who Mbabazi says is an American serviceman. There has been no public response from Preston, and no official confirmation from US authorities about his whereabouts or the family's claims.
Ugandan singer Bruno K has taken up the case. He has appealed to Ugandans living in the US, especially those with military connections, to help locate Preston. According to reports, some Ugandans serving in the US military have already reached out and said they are willing to assist in finding him.
Bruno K has also launched a fundraising campaign to support Mbabazi and her children with daily essentials and educational needs. The money, he said, would cover food, school expenses, and other basics while efforts to resolve the matter continue.
The singer has urged the US Embassy in Kampala to help verify whether Mbabazi's children may qualify for American citizenship or any assistance available through their alleged father. He has also encouraged Mbabazi to seek legal help and report the matter to the appropriate authorities so the case can be handled through official channels.
The situation raises questions about the legal status of children born to Ugandan mothers and American fathers, and what obligations a parent living abroad has to a family left behind. Under US law, children born abroad to a US citizen parent can acquire citizenship at birth if certain residency requirements are met, but the process requires documentation and, often, the cooperation of the parent.
Mbabazi's case is not unique. Across Uganda, there are many women who say they married foreigners, only to be left behind when the men returned home. Some of these cases end up in Ugandan courts, where judges have ordered foreign fathers to pay child support. But enforcement of those orders across borders is difficult, and many women say they never receive the money.
Bruno K has said the priority is to find Preston and confirm his identity and location. He has asked anyone with information to come forward. He has also said the US Embassy should get involved, not just for Mbabazi's sake, but to clarify the legal status of the two children, who may be American citizens.
The children's citizenship matters because it could open doors to support and protection that Mbabazi cannot provide alone. If they are US citizens, they may be entitled to assistance from US agencies, and Preston could face legal consequences for abandoning them.
For now, Mbabazi is waiting. She has not said whether she has filed a formal complaint with Ugandan police or with the US Embassy. She has not said whether she has hired a lawyer. She has only said that she needs help.
Bruno K's fundraiser is ongoing. He has not said how much money has been raised or how many people have contributed. He has said only that the response has been encouraging, and that he will continue to push for answers until Preston is found.
The allegations against Preston have not been publicly responded to, and there has been no official confirmation from US authorities regarding his whereabouts or the family's claims.
According to Pulse.ng.
