Another controversial bill under debate by Parliamentarians has created divisions in the house with some legislators supporting it and its provisions and others coming against it.
MPs voted to ban widow inheritance, and made it an offence for a spouse to demand for a refund of bride price as they entered into the final stages of writing a law governing marriage.
The House adopted amendments to the Marriage and Divorce Bill amidst protests from some members who walked out of Parliament, saying the Bill should be stayed for two more months to allow them consult their constituents.
Speaker Rebecca Kadaga, however, ruled that the debate should go on, saying the Bill had stalled since 1960. She added that there was nothing MPs wanted to consult about widow inheritance, since the practice was known.
Clause 13 of the Bill, which was unanimously adopted yesterday, now makes it an offence to marry a widow through the practice of inheritance without her consent. The law also makes bride price non-refundable.
Women activists had demanded that bride price, which they said had been commercialised, should be banned since it put women at the risk of being battered by their husbands who regarded them as property.
In many case, Parents have been ordered to refund the gifts that were paid for their daughters as Bride Price in case the lady and her husband separated.
Earlier in the day, women legislators met and agreed to have a contentious clause seeking to recognise the mutual rights of cohabiting partners to property after termination of a relationship deleted.
Some MPs say cohabitation is not a recognised form of marriage, and that legalising it would negatively impact on the family unit.
Clause 13 of the Bill, which was unanimously adopted yesterday, now makes it an offence to marry a widow through the practice of inheritance without her consent. The law also makes bride price non-refundable.
Women activists had demanded that bride price, which they said had been commercialised, should be banned since it put women at the risk of being battered by their husbands who regarded them as property.
In many case, Parents have been ordered to refund the gifts that were paid for their daughters as Bride Price in case the lady and her husband separated.
Earlier in the day, women legislators met and agreed to have a contentious clause seeking to recognise the mutual rights of cohabiting partners to property after termination of a relationship deleted.
Some MPs say cohabitation is not a recognised form of marriage, and that legalising it would negatively impact on the family unit.
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