By Isaac Wandubile
This Wednesday, a delegation of Women CSOs leaders, led by FIDA Uganda Head Rose Wakikona, appeared before the Legal Affairs Committee of Parliament. They were here to give their views on the Marriage Bill which is currently being processed by the same Committee.
They submitted views on many things including the need to legislate the new law making it legally permissible for Women to also have multiple marriage or spousal partners and be in more than one legally recognised marriages.
Wakikona submitted that this would enable women equalize with men who are permitted to legally be married to more than one wives once they opt to be in a polygamous marriage union.
She referred to Article 21 and other equally marriage-enforcing provisions of the Constitution which require equality between men and women. She demanded to know why women can’t be permitted to have their own version of polygamy since its okay for the men to engage in the same.
The controversial proposal by the FIDA delegation created a lot of splits among the Committee members present with some supporting it and others against.
Known for his liberal-mindedness, Fox Odoi (who worked at State House and was Gen Museveni’s personal lawyer for many years) led those who asserted that the FIDA proposal should be tolerated and accepted as justifiable because it’s based on clear provisions of the Constitution, on especially equality between men and women. (For comments on this story, get back to us on 0705579994 [WhatsApp line], 0779411734 & 041 4674611 or email us at mulengeranews@gmail.com).
