Gender
Women’s Rights Groups Reject Polygamy in Civil Marriages, Demand Equal Rights
Women’s rights organizations and activists are demanding the removal of polygamy from the category of civil marriages, rejecting a proposal in the Marriage Bill 2024 that seeks to open up civil marriages to polygamy. The activists argue that the Bill unfairly allows only men to marry multiple partners while denying women the same rights.
Appearing before the Committee on Legal and Parliamentary Affairs on Wednesday, the women’s rights groups urged lawmakers to discourage polygamy, stating that it creates room for violations of women’s rights. They also proposed guidelines for polygamous marriages, including mandatory consent from the first wife or previous wives, proof of financial responsibility, and separate residences for additional wives.
“When we read this Marriage Bill, we realize that polygamy, in its interpretation, only refers to polygyny. This law doesn’t recognize polyandry, which would promote equal rights for men and women. It only allows men to marry multiple spouses but does not permit women to do the same,” argued Rose Wakikona, Deputy Executive Director of the Women’s Pro Bono Initiative.
The Women’s Pro Bono Initiative further defended its stance by pointing out that Uganda has ratified the Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination Against Women (CEDAW) and the Maputo Protocol, both of which promote monogamy as the ideal form of marriage due to its role in advancing gender equality and women’s rights.
“Historically in Uganda, civil marriages have never been polygamous—they have always been monogamous. By sneaking polygamy into civil marriages, Uganda is creating a system where women will have no choice but to endure polygamous relationships. Yet, as a nation, we are supposed to be moving towards a human rights-based system. This proposal is a violation of women’s rights and should not be allowed,” Wakikona emphasized.
The activists also called for decriminalizing cohabitation, arguing that marriage remains financially burdensome for many couples. Additionally, they demanded the removal of mandatory parental consent for Christian marriages and proposed that premarital counselling be made optional.
“As individuals who have undergone premarital counselling, we believe that it can be harmful because it often reinforces patriarchal norms that oppress women. Women are taught to submit and sacrifice, while men’s responsibilities in marriage are downplayed,” Wakikona explained.
Hon. Fox Odoi, Member of Parliament for West Budama North East, encouraged women’s advocacy groups to keep pushing for the passage of the Marriage Bill 2024, regardless of how it might affect men’s egos.
However, during today’s committee session, Pastor Martin Ssempa pushed for the recognition of polygamy under Christian marriages.
“You cannot say that one cannot be a good Christian just because they are polygamous,” he argued.
Ssempa also called for the criminalization of the denial of conjugal rights, which was previously removed from the Penal Code, and proposed the creation of a ministerial position specifically for marriage and family affairs.