Matembe, sensitise the women first
May 30, 2005
SIR— I disagree with the views expressed by MP Miria Matembe in Parliament that as the Domestic Relations Bill (DRB) has been pending for several years, government should immediately pass it because not all Ugandans accept laws before they are enacted.
SIR— I disagree with the views expressed by MP Miria Matembe in Parliament that as the Domestic Relations Bill (DRB) has been pending for several years, government should immediately pass it because not all Ugandans accept laws before they are enacted. Granted. However, I would like to remind her that all laws relating to marriage, divorce, succession, inheritance along with child welfare and other related laws are personal in nature. They touch on the feelings and sentiments of the individuals, their religious, cultural and other beliefs which, if not properly handled, could cause instability and chaos in the country. If the DRB offends the Islamic faith or cultural beliefs of certain sectors of the community, government cannot impose the law by force on the communities concerned.
I suggest to Matembe that before she attacks the government, she should, as a female lawyer, organise several seminars for her fellow women and educate them. in general (in particular the Muslim women who recently demonstrated against the DRB in Kampala) should first be sensitised because most of them think rightly or wrongly that the DRB offends the Islamic faith. She should point out how the new law will benefit them as women. The MP as a married woman is perfectly aware of the purported ‘second wives association’ whose members are largely single mothers and who also advocate a law to recognise their status and relationship with the married men who father their children. Don’t forget the resistance of the first wives against such a law. How would Matembe, for example, feel if this happened in her own home? Wouldn’t she as a human being be hurt? On the other hand, would she refuse her husband’s children born out of marriage to be accepted in their father’s home, ours being a matrilineal society? I think the matter is so complex that it needs careful handling. The woman in the rural area who is not educated and has no income of her own but entirely depends on her husband, sees the DRB as an elitist law intended for graduate women, the majority of whom are single and have no intention whatsoever of getting married.
The married women view such single women with a lot of suspicion and hatred and call single mothers poachers. So, Miria, first put your house as a woman in order by sensitising these women who demonstrated against the DRB before attacking the government. You should avoid politicising the issue, otherwise your good intentions may be misunderstood.
Kulumba-Kiingi
Kampala
I suggest to Matembe that before she attacks the government, she should, as a female lawyer, organise several seminars for her fellow women and educate them. in general (in particular the Muslim women who recently demonstrated against the DRB in Kampala) should first be sensitised because most of them think rightly or wrongly that the DRB offends the Islamic faith. She should point out how the new law will benefit them as women. The MP as a married woman is perfectly aware of the purported ‘second wives association’ whose members are largely single mothers and who also advocate a law to recognise their status and relationship with the married men who father their children. Don’t forget the resistance of the first wives against such a law. How would Matembe, for example, feel if this happened in her own home? Wouldn’t she as a human being be hurt? On the other hand, would she refuse her husband’s children born out of marriage to be accepted in their father’s home, ours being a matrilineal society? I think the matter is so complex that it needs careful handling. The woman in the rural area who is not educated and has no income of her own but entirely depends on her husband, sees the DRB as an elitist law intended for graduate women, the majority of whom are single and have no intention whatsoever of getting married.
The married women view such single women with a lot of suspicion and hatred and call single mothers poachers. So, Miria, first put your house as a woman in order by sensitising these women who demonstrated against the DRB before attacking the government. You should avoid politicising the issue, otherwise your good intentions may be misunderstood.
Kulumba-Kiingi
Kampala