MPs voice opposition to EAC abortion Bill

Mar 27, 2017

The MPs say the Bill which EALA will debate violates the right to life for the unborn babies

Bufumbira East MP Dr. James Nsaba Buturo addresses the media at Parliament on the petition to drop the Bill. Photo by Miriam Namutebi

Calling it disastrous and evil, the newly created Uganda Parliamentary Forum on Ethics and Integrity has opposed the East African Reproductive Health Rights Bill 2017

The Bill, which was recently tabled in the East African Legislative Assembly (EALA), seeks to among other objectives legalize abortion and give contraceptives to children and teenagers aged 10 to 19 years.

Sponsored by a Burundian legislator, the Bill at the committee stage is among the pending businesses to be handled by EALA.

MPs on the Parliamentary Forum on Ethics and Integrity who included Bufumbira East MP Dr. James Nsaba Buturo, Buhweju County MP Francis Mwijukye, Manjiya County MP John Baptist Nambeshe and Aringa County MP Ashraf Olega cautioned the EALA MPs against the Bill which they said violates the right to life for the unborn babies.

"I am absolutely opposed to this Bill of abortion. I made an oath to protect the constitution which guarantees the right to life including the right of the voiceless unborn babies.

Abortion is an evil that must be fought by all of us. Initially I was not supporting Trump but when I learnt that he was against abortion and homosexuality, I supported him," Nambeshe said.

Nambeshe who is known in Parliament to be a man of tough statements, advised the International Criminal Court (ICC) to add abortion to its list of crimes against humanity.

"Obviously as a Catholic I am against the Bill; even as an activist for justice.  Our motto is For God and My country. Abortion is not of God. Whoever supports abortion is disobedient to God," Mwijukye said.

"I'm a Muslim and the Quran definitely states that terminating the life of a human being is the worst thing and whoever does it will go to hell. All Members of Parliament who are God-fearing should oppose the law," Olega said.

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