Women want Speaker Rebecca Kadaga to conclude the marriage bill

Women activists have tasked Speaker of Parliament, Rebecca Kadaga to present the Marriage Bill for consideration in the 11th Parliament.

They argued that its long over due and womens rights are being violated despite their contribution to  development of families. Cross Cultural Foundation Uganda Director Barbra Babweteera raise the proposal at dissemination of research findings on the nexus between culture and 2017 Marriage Bill in Kampala.

CCFU is a non-governmental organization  exists to promote the recognition of culture as vital for human development and harnesses cultural resources to end violence against women and girls in Alur, Karamoja, Buganda, Busoga and Tooro.

Veronica Bichetero Kaberomaido County Member of Parliament urged women activists to lobby Parliament saying the Bill is at legal and parliamentary affairs Committee of Parliament.

 “Marriage Bill is entirely property of Parliament. As member of legal and public affairs committee I ask civil society organizations to revive the bill and raise the debate about the bill to be tabled, “Veronica said.

She noted that government had abdicated its responsibility to present necessary legislation, a gap that Parliament has to fill.

“If you look at the Constitution, there are many areas where Government was supposed to bring proposals [bills], but since 1995 they haven’t come,” Veronica noted.

Gender Minister Peace Mutuzo pledged to push and lobby speaker of Parliament and legal and public affairs Committee of Parliament to pass the bill this 11th Parliament saying its long over due.

“ my last intervention on the Marriage Bill 2017, is that Minister for Justice d

Sent the Bill to Parliament after amendments. I am ready to bring the Bill to Parliament as long as the mover is present,” Mutuzo said.

The UN officials recommend that the Bill be renamed the Marriage Bill and that cohabitation needed to be provided for.

“Cohabitation is not covered in the Bill. This leaves partners and their property unprotected yet the majority of Ugandans are in the regime of cohabitation,” said Justice David Batema, a consultant at UN Women.

Mutuzo said the Bill would help deal with the high rate of domestic violence considering that no region in Uganda records a domestic violence prevalence rate under 40 percent.

The Bill will protect women rights and culture which are critical for our coexistence and promote peace in families.