"I made a mistake": Zari Hassan apologises to Shakib after social media outburst

Ugandan socialite and businesswoman, Zari Hassan, has publicly apologised to her husband, Shakib Lutaaya, following a recent outburst that saw her airing their private matters on social media.

In an interview with Bukedde 1, Zari said she regrets her actions and sought forgiveness from Shakib, acknowledging that her frustrations had led her to make mistakes.

"I am an independent woman... I’m Zari, the BossLady, but, in all honesty, I made a mistake. To err is human. God created us to make mistakes... We all do. Shakib, forgive me. I acted out of frustration, and I now regret the things I said. I ask Shakib to forgive me. I was just frustrated and overwhelmed, and I had no one to share my burdens with," she confessed.

Zari, who is currently in Kampala to reconcile with Shakib, admitted that her decision to vent on social media was a poor choice.

 "I have a husband, but recently I said some crazy things, as many of you might have seen. As a normal person, you sometimes reach a breaking point. Things happen; Allah created us that way – we all make mistakes. But upon reflection, you can see your wrongs. Truly, I made a mistake. I was so frustrated that I ended up venting on social media. I broke down on the wrong platform," she added.

Her apology follows a series of heated exchanges between the couple, which were triggered by a social media post that Zari made on 12th August.

In the post, Zari criticised Shakib for being overly insecure, particularly after her former partner, Diamond Platnumz, made an unexpected appearance at their daughter's birthday party.

The tension began on 10th August 2024, when Zari hosted an extravagant all-white party at her luxurious home in Pretoria to celebrate her daughter Tiffah’s special day.

However, the event took an unexpected turn when Shakib expressed frustration over Diamond’s surprise attendance. Zari explained that Shakib was upset because he had not been informed that Diamond would be attending the party.

In a live video addressing Shakib, Zari stated, "He was mad, questioning why I didn’t tell him Diamond was coming. He even suggested that I might still be in love with the father of my children."

She further expressed her frustration, saying, "I don’t think I’m for you. I’m very secure, and I chose you. And with your insecurities, you thinking otherwise, I don’t think I’m for you. Maybe you should find people on your level. What do you bring to the table for me to be here proving myself?"

Zari reiterated that she had moved on from her past relationship with Diamond and had consciously chosen to be with Shakib.

"I think one thing my husband doesn’t understand is that I am so over my ex. I chose my husband. There are many other people out there who want to be with me, and when I say many, these are people that you guys don’t know, but I chose my husband," she explained.

In her interview, Zari stressed that her actions were a result of the pressure she was under and that she deeply regretted hurting Shakib.

 "I love my husband, and I know I’ve hurt him. But I’m asking for forgiveness. We all make mistakes, but what matters is that we learn from them and strive to do better," she said.

The couple, who were recently seen dancing closely and whispering to each other at a nightclub in a video shared on social media, appear to be working towards mending their relationship following the public apology.