Summary:
- Canon Ongeng assured the Church’s readiness to work with the government to uphold the sanctity of marriage and pledged to submit a detailed report to the Legal Committee of Parliament outlining the Church’s official position on the Bill.
KAMPALA: The Church of Uganda has lauded Parliament and the Government of Uganda for their ongoing efforts to review, reform, and consolidate the legal framework governing marriage.
This commendation was made on Wednesday during a dialogue on the proposed Marriage Bill 2024, recently tabled in Parliament by Hon. Sarah Achieng Opendi, Woman Member of Parliament for Tororo District.
The meeting, held at the Provincial Secretariat in Namirembe, brought together Church leaders and stakeholders. Organized by the Church of Uganda’s Directorate of Household and Community Transformation, the session evaluated the Bill’s provisions and their potential impact on the sanctity of Christian marriage.
Church’s Praise and Concerns
Speaking at the meeting, Rev. Canon William Ongeng, the Provincial Secretary of the Church of Uganda, commended the Bill’s progressive steps to address gaps in the existing legal framework. These include prohibiting marriage for individuals under 18, banning same-sex unions, and imposing penalties for bigamy.
However, Canon Ongeng highlighted concerns with specific provisions in the Bill.
Section 39: The allowance for converting monogamous Christian marriages into polygamous ones was described as contradicting Christian teachings, which view marriage as a lifelong union between one man and one woman.
Section 47: Provisions for prenuptial and postnuptial agreements were criticized for potentially undermining the trust and unity foundational to marriage.
Clause 61: The presumption of marriage clause was said to grant courts excessive latitude in defining what constitutes marriage.
Section 74: The inclusion of “irretrievable breakdown of marriage” as the sole ground for divorce was flagged for potentially leading to higher divorce rates.
Canon Ongeng assured the Church’s readiness to work with the government to uphold the sanctity of marriage and pledged to submit a detailed report to the Legal Committee of Parliament outlining the Church’s official position on the Bill.
Hon. Sarah Achieng Opendi emphasized that the Marriage Bill 2024 seeks to address issues undermining the institution of marriage, safeguard individual rights, promote equality, and strengthen the legal framework governing marital relations.
“By tackling challenges such as underage marriage, same-sex unions, and bigamy, the Bill seeks to uphold the integrity and sanctity of marriage while aligning legal provisions with contemporary societal values and international human rights standards,” Hon. Opendi stated.
During the meeting, the Archbishop of the Church of Uganda, The Most Rev. Dr. Stephen Samuel Kaziimba Mugalu, represented by Bishop Jackson Frederick Baalwa, Assistant Bishop of Kampala Diocese, addressed the ongoing 16 Days of Activism Campaign Against Gender-Based Violence (GBV).
Archbishop Kaziimba acknowledged Uganda’s progress in combating GBV but noted gaps in prevention, response, and management.
He highlighted emerging issues like Technology-Facilitated Gender-Based Violence (TFGBV) and called for comprehensive policies and increased investment to address these challenges.
He also commended the reintroduction of the Sexual Offences Bill 2024, which aims to enhance the punishment of sex offenders and provide greater protections for victims during trials.
Rev. Andrew Agaba, Director of the Household and Community Transformation Directorate, reaffirmed the Church’s dedication to empowering women, promoting human rights, and ending GBV.
“The Church will use its platforms to address gender injustices, encourage survivors to report GBV, and offer support. Mentorship programs promoting positive masculinity and conflict resolution based on biblical principles will also continue,” Rev. Agaba said.
He urged the government, civil society, and private individuals to collaborate with the Church to implement empowerment programs tailored to marginalized and rural communities, fostering a safer and more equitable Uganda.
