Writes Leo Odera Omolo In Kisumu City.

The Ugandan government is in the process of introducing a new law that will require courts to divide the wealth between a wife and a husband in case of divorce.
In addition to the Marriage and Divorce Bill, the government is also working on the Domestic Violence ,Administration of Muslims Personal Law and Female Genital mutilation Bill.

In the new law, wealth acquired during the cohabitation between a man and a woman, though not legally married to him, will share the spoil at the time of separation to compensate for the services rendered by the woman during their cohabitation.

The proposed new laws were revealed by the State Minister for Gender, Rukia Nakadima last week when she addressed a group MPs. “These laws will mostly protect women. They will help to solve problems related to divorce, violence, marital rape, forced marriage, cohabiting couples to divide the wealth accumulated during the time they stayed together .

And when dividing wealth, the domestic work done by the wives will also be considered and taken into account for compensation.

The new Bill also bans the payment of bride price, which proposes to replace it with giving of marriage gifts, which must not be mandatory. The Bill also gives authority to women to decide on the number of children they want to produce.

Presenting the Bill to MPs at Entebbe Imperial Resort Beach last week, Uganda’s Law Reform chairperson, Tessa Kawooyo said polygamy will not be allowed under the new law, especially where women requirement have not been adhered to ”time-tested African value and norms pertaining to marriage.

“In both Christianity and our African culture, divorce is discouraged. But this new proposed law encourages divorce rather than seeking to consolidate marriages”, Okumu said.

Oyam MP Isha Odito added, ”Our culture, values and norms should be protected against alien Western culture. It’s measures have failed to work”.

However, Kinkizi East MP Chris Barnyomuesi said, ” The Bill will help us to ensure that human rights are adhered to and promote gender equality. I am sure many MPs will support it when it is tabled in Parliament”.

Minister Nakadima said other Bills which her Ministry had drafted, would soon be tabled in the House for debate and adoption.

Ends
leooderaomolo@yahoo.com

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From: Leo Odera Omolo
Date: Wed, Sep 23, 2009 at 8:12 AM
Subject: Uganda proposesd new law to abolish bride prices and wealth sharing