Museveni calls for calm over marriage law
By George Murumba
8th April 2013:
President Yoweri Museveni used his Easter prayers speech at Rwera Catholic Parish in Rwikiniro Sub-county, Ruhaama County in Ntungamo district to call for calm in the country as Members of Parliament consult their constituents about the desirability and or value of the now controversial Marriage and Divorce Bill.
He assured Ugandans that as long as he is still the President, and the National Resistance Movement government is still in charge of the affairs of Uganda, a bad, harsh or even insensitive law that tramples on the fundamental human rights of citizens or affects their harmonious co-existance will never be passed.
Responding to concerns raised by several religious and political leaders on some aspects of the Marriage and Divorce Bill during the service, the President, who was flanked by his wife Janet Museveni, asked Ugandans to give their views to their Members of Parliament.
He assured the congregation that if the Bill is not well researched and debated to enable it cater for the wishes, aspiration, cultural norms and the rights of all citizens then it will not be passed into law. Museveni said the Bill still needed a lot of consultation, and wondered why some political players decided to re-table it in parliament.
He said if the Bill comes up for debate when it still contains clauses that are anti-people then his ruling National Resistance Movement party will oppose it. Citing his own family, Museveni said whereas his late father believed in the payment of dowry during marriage, he didn’t share the same views and never asked for dowry for children.
The President also used the occasion to appeal to all leaders to mobilize the people to work and raise their incomes and uproot poverty from their homes. He said some leaders were doing injustice to the people by making them waste time demanding things from the government instead of sensitizing them about what they can do for themselves at family level.
He strongly warned the youth against wasting their youthful years in urban centres gambling and misbehaving instead of working hard to overcome poverty.
The President then pledged Shs 80 million towards the renovation of Rwera Parish Church. END: Login to www.ugandacorrespondent.com every Monday to read our top stories mid-week for our updates
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