Uganda Law Reform Commission (ULRC) Chairperson,Vastina Rukimirana

The long awaited Marriage and Divorce Bill is still facing resistance from some MPs and a cross section of the public who say though it has been amended; it does not address all the concerns earlier raised against it.

However, the Uganda Law Commission (ULC) has asked Parliament Speaker, the Rt.Hon. Rebecca Kadaga, to order the Minister of Justice and Constitutional Affairs to table the bill before Parliament for the first reading.

According to Uganda Law Reform Commission (ULRC) Chairperson,Vastina Rukimirana, the title of the bill was  changed to the Marriage Bill and that the contentious cohabitation provision which previously stared arguments has been removed.

“We reviewed the bill along the recommendations from the numerous stakeholders. We agreed to remove all the controversial clauses,” she said.

MPs however, argue that they need to consult more with their voters to ensure that they are in agreement with the current amendments. Zombo District Woman MP,Grace Kwiyocwiny, who is also the State Minister for Northern Uganda says that she has no problem with the bill if the contentious issues are removed.

Buyaga West MP, Barnabas Tinkasimire, when contacted for a comment about the bill said that he will make a decision after consulting his constituents whereas his counterpart the Buyaga East MP, Eric Musana, said a lot of consultations will need to be done at the grass roots so that there is no pending issue like it was previously.

The Marriage and Divorce Bill is expected to be re-tabled in Parliament after proposed amendments were presented to Kadaga.

ULC had been had earlier been tasked by the Justice and Constitutional Affairs Minister, Kahinda Otafire, to review the Bill hence its renaming and scrapping of the controversial clauses.

Justice and Constitutional Affairs Minister Kahinda Otafiire

Dubbed the Marriage Bill, the Commission made it more inclusive of all marriage types in the country while at the same time deleting all clauses such as the one on co-habitation that had earlier sparked outrage among citizens

Kadaga noted that rights for those cohabiting had to be protected especially for children born out such relationships, and for couples who had been together for over 30 years.

“Co-habitation is a reality; it is high time we stopped burying our heads in the sand. We need to protect the interests of these in the bill,” Kadaga said.

The Marriage and Divorce Bill, which came into the spotlight in 2009 was seen to be a platform to right the wrongs that were seen to done to women in marriage.

The post Parliament to re-table Marriage and Divorce Bill first appeared on Uganda Multimedia News & Information.

Barnabas Tinkasimire

During the committee’s session today morning, the committee members have unanimously agreed to help and support the city’s executive director in fulfilling her work.

Recently, the city’s director and the coordinator of military Intelligence Gen. Tinyefunza have been locking horns over the Mayoral residential house that the General is currently occupying.

The committee Chairman Tinkasimire Barnabas concurs that there is a lot of confusion in the administration of the city, which may have come from the KCCA act, which they also admit was not consultative enough and passed in haste.

Tinkasimire also says since the act is still in its infant stage of implementation, they should give it chance to work, and that if it fails, they will cause the minister to table amendments into the act.

The committee also agreed to summon Gen. Tinyefuza to explain his refusal to vacate the house and how he got the house in the first place.

By Isaac Senabulya

The post Jenifer Musisi gets backing of Presidential Affairs Committee first appeared on Uganda Multimedia News & Information.

Two Members of Parliament from Bunyoro Sub-region are opposed to the extension of the presidential tenure to seven years as is being proposed by some MPS

Barnabas Tinkasimire an NRM stalwart and Member of Parliament for Buyaga East in Kibaale District says that there is no need for increasing the tenure of the presidential term saying that it will not improve service delivery to Ugandans.

Barnabas Tinkasimire

He said those advocating for the extension of presidential and Parliamentary terms are money minded self seekers with intent to recover the money they use in their campaigns but without having the spirit of serving their electorates.

This follows a move by the minister of primary health care James Kakooza who said he is ready to move a motion in parliament seeking to push the presidential term from five to seven years.

Bu Tinkasimire says seven years are a long period for one to be President or in parliament adding that even the electorate can become tired of the political leader for having stayed on power for so long without going to polls.

James Kiiza Rwebembera, the Member of Parliament for Bugahya County in Hoima District also says five years are enough for one to have delivered to his people.

He said the push could plunge the country into riot since people would have become tired with the leader for seven years.

Ultimate Media

The post Some MPs oppose Presidential term extension proposal by James Kakooza first appeared on Uganda Multimedia News & Information.