dual citizenship okayed

By Joyce Namutebi and Cyprian Musoke
PARLIAMENT on Wednesday approved dual citizenship for Ugandans and non-Ugandans.
This was during consideration of clauses of The Constitutional (Amend-ment) (No.3), Bill, 2005.
A total of 141 MPs also approved the Government proposal that except where it is impracticable to do so, the Electoral Commission shall hold presidential, parliamentary and local council elections on the same day.
They also approved the amendment to hold these elections within the first 30 days of the last 90 days before the expiry of the term of the president.
There was no dissent on the amendment to allow dual citizenship. The Bill allows a citizen of Uganda of 18 years and above who voluntarily acquired citizenship of another country, to retain the citizenship of Uganda.
It also allows a person who acquires Ugandan citizenship to retain citizenship of his country.
In a surprising turn, the Government abandoned its amendment on same-sex marriages and adopted an amendment by Abdu Katuntu (Bugweri) seeking to criminalise such marriages.
The Bill had proposed, “Marriage is lawful only if entered into between a man and a woman.”
Katuntu’s amendment read, “Marriage between people of the same sex is prohibited under this constitution.”
Ends