'Increase marriage age from 18 to 30 years'

Leuben Muhabuzi, the CEO of Men's Protection Against Domestic Violence, a non-government organisation shocked the locals when he suggested that the marriage age should be increased to 30 from 18 years. 

Muhabuzi argued that people who got married at 18 did not know what they were doing. "We did a research in 10 districts including Kampala, Mpigi, Gomba, Sembabule, Ntungamo, Bushenyi, Jinja, and Iganga and discovered that 80% of the people who entered marriage did not know what to do".

He added: "At 18  a person is liable to vote but not for marriage.  There should be a requirement that shows that both men and women are ready for marriage and that comes with age."

According to Muhabuzi , a 30 year old person is mature enough to know which kind of partner he or she wants.   This person has also gained income to take care of his family

However, the age of 18 is that of self-discovery not in matters of sex but who you are and what you would like to be in future.  "At this age a person is still in school and has no job experience. Even if he or she had job, the amount of money he got, would not sustain the family," Muhabuzi said.

"Every week we get about 15 men complaining that they were forced into marriage and did not know what they are doing," Muhabuzi reveals. 

Responding to some critics who argued that the extension of marriage age would lead to more men abusing girls, Muhabuzi said men do that because no one teaches them to be good men.

"The government and non-governmental organization focus on women and children leaving the men behind," he says, "but we are already changing that. We go to the grass roots at the parish and sub county levels telling men their responsibility and what they should do."

Contrary to culture and society,  Muhabuzi said a woman is not too old at 30 for both marriage and having children. "In fact that is the age she is very mature and ready to settle down. I know of men who are looking for mature women for marriage and they are tired of young girls. Men are ready for confident women so that they can have a peace of mind."

Nevertheless, the extension of the marriage age might cause undue pressure from extended family for   both men and women to marry, which Muhabuzi said may lead to marriage failure.

Muhabuzi also advised parents to prepare their children for marriage. "In earlier days, both boys and girls were prepared for marriage and family life by their aunties and uncles, which is not very common today.  You find a child of 18 years with two children. How do you think those children will turn out?"Muhabuzi states. 

He also urged the government to invest in maintaining stable families. "Much money will be saved in curbing corruption, theft, and defilement among others which are partly caused by broken families," he said.