Former archdeacon wants age of consent lowered to sixteen years

By Vision Reporter The 67-year-old former Archdeacon of Iganga, Canon Jjemba Kiwanuka, has called for the reduction of the age of consent to 16 years.The suggestion surprised a crowd of people that had turned up to give their views to the Constitutional Review Commission.He said it was difficult for the poor to stop their daughters from marrying early. He said, “UPE is here in urban areas, but there are girls in the villages whose parents cannot stop them from getting married before they are 18.” He also attacked those who peep at women’s long slits asking, “Why do you look there? Does that also require us to waste time on the code of dressing?”Kiwanuka who wore a checkered suit was against the freeing of political parties.He stated in Luganda, “mmwe abatijja, abatalabangako, mmwe muba musaba ebyo naye nze omwana w’omwami kyenalabako kyamala ssisobola kuwagira kuzzaawo bibiina,” (“Those who did not witness the atrocities committed by the multipartyists are the ones who are demanding for their return but I’ll never support parties”).He equated the Land Act provision that allowed squatters to pay sh1,000 a year to the landlord to “stealing and being disrespectful” to landowners. He called for revision of the law.