The State Minister for Gender and Culture, Peace Mutuuzo has assured women activists under the Uganda Women Network (UWONET) that her Ministry will take it upon itself to have the contraversial Marriage and Divorce retabled and passed by Parliament.
While closing the 3rd National women’s week on Friday at Hotel Africana, the Minister observed that her ministry will cooperate with the Ministry of Justice and Constitutional Affairs together with all the relevant stakeholders to ensure that the bill is on the agenda of the 10th Parliament.
The bill tabled in December 2009 provides for the types of recognized marriages in Uganda, marital rights and duties, recognition of cohabitation in relation to property rights, sets grounds for breakdown of marriage, and provides for rights of parties on dissolution of marriage.
Mutuuzo said that “The bill is necessary to among others reform and consolidate the law relating to marriage as well as dealing with widow inheritance.”
“As a depart we are working to rephrase the bill, we shall not call it the Marriage and Divorce Bill anymore but rather call it the Marriage Bill.”
“The bill cannot imply to Marriage and at the same time to divorce; there is no law that is prepared towards destruction every law must be positive then the other elements just come within if things go so unrepairable; let’s all work towards building families.”
Early this week, UWONET Executive Director, Ritah Aciro told the media that the bill is needed to address several challenges in marriage which are greatly affecting the country’s economy.