Women members of parliament and civil society organisations are furious at the Attorney General and the government for the failure of parliament to discuss and pass the long awaited marriage and divorce bill.
The government through the Attorney failed to table the bill in parliament for the third reading on ground that government needs more time for consultations.
Atuki Turner
During a joint press conference between woman MPs and the civil society organizations held at parliament today, Ibanda district woman MP Margret Kiboijana said that the statement made by the attorney general in the chamber of parliament on Wednesday was a clear manifestation that there is no political will from government to have the bill passed.
She says that all the stake holders had been consulted and therefore the attorney general had his own intentions to say that the government wanted some time to consult again.
The woman mp for Oyam district Beatrice lagada said that the bill got wide consultations and should have been passed before the end of the 8th Parliament on Wednesday.
She says that even if the bill got little consultation, it should have been considered since other bills like the land amendment bill and cultural and traditional bill did not get adequate consultations but the government worked hard to ensure they are passed.
She said that if government does not bring the bill in the house soon, women MPs will move a private members bill for the Marriage and Divorce bill to be passed.
The marriage and divorce bill which used to be called the Domestic Relations Bill has taken 48 years being considered and women activists are desperate to have it passed. The bill is aimed at providing for a fair family law and equitable relations within a family.
At the same press briefing, the Executive Director for MIFUMI women advocacy organization Turner Atuki attacked the speaker for being biased on women affairs.
She says that the speaker had earlier committed himself to ensure the bill is tabled and passed but later changed his position. She called upon MPs for the next parliament to consider having a woman speaker who will listen to women affairs.