Matooke Republic
Monday, September 1, 2025
  • Home
  • News
  • Entertainment
  • Gossip
  • Features
  • Business
  • Sports
  • Health
  • Photos
  • Relationships
Matooke Republic
  • Home
  • News
  • Entertainment
  • Gossip
  • Features
  • Business
  • Sports
  • Health
  • Photos
  • Relationships
No Result
View All Result
Matooke Republic
No Result
View All Result

Marriage Bill: Religious leaders back criminalisation of cohabitation, support a three-year jail term or Shs 10M fine

Matooke Republic by Matooke Republic
February 20, 2025
in News
Reading Time: 2 mins read
Joseph Serwadda.

Joseph Serwadda.

14
SHARES
Share on FacebookShare on Twitter

The Inter-Religious Council of Uganda (IRCU) has backed the proposal to criminalise cohabitation in Uganda, a move that, if adopted by Parliament, would see couples in such arrangements serve a three-year jail sentence or pay a fine of Shs10 million.

The Council’s stance was presented by Joseph Serwadda, Co-Chairperson of the Inter-Religious Council of Presidents, while appearing before the Joint Committee on Legal and Gender Affairs to present the group’s views on the Marriage Bill 2024, which was tabled by Tororo District Woman MP, Sarah Opendi.

“While we push for the criminalization of cohabitation under the Bill, we observe that there is a need to offer adequate protection of rights for parties, children, and property acquired in cohabitation relationships. Therefore, given the magnitude of the many relationships founded on cohabitation, the IRCU recommends that the government enact an exclusive Bill separate from the Marriage Bill 2024 to regulate relationships between cohabiting persons,” Serwadda remarked.

RELATED POSTS

Lawyer sentenced to five years for attempting to export elephant ivory hidden as wood samples

Six Congolese nationals arrested in Arua with fake US dollars worth Shs 1.1 billion

In Clause 89 of the Marriage Bill, Opendi proposed a fine of Shs10 million or a jail sentence of three years for people presenting themselves as though they were married. She further explained that “holding out” under the Bill refers to living together as husband and wife, acquiring or owning property jointly, bearing children together, and the woman taking on the man’s surname.

Over a week ago, controversial pastor Martin Ssempa urged Parliament to legalize polygamy for Christians and criminalize adultery.

Ssempa argued that while current marriage laws recognize only monogamy within Christian unions, many devoted Christians are in polygamous marriages.

The pastor further urged Parliament to legislate against the denial of conjugal rights, which he described as a major cause of domestic violence and marital breakdowns. He suggested an additional clause requiring couples to fulfill their conjugal obligations at least three times per week.

The debate over the Marriage Bill 2024 continues, with stakeholders weighing in on these controversial proposals and their potential impact on Uganda’s legal and social landscape.

Related

Tags: CohabitingHon Sarah OpendiInter Religious CouncilMarriage Bill 2024
Share6Tweet4Send
Matooke Republic

Matooke Republic

Freshly peeled info from area code 256

Related Posts

Court rules cohabiting couples must share property after separation

by Matooke Republic
6 hours ago

...

Proposed Marriage Bill seeks to recognise couples as married after six months of cohabiting

by Matooke Republic
2 years ago

...

Next Post

Speke Resort Munyonyo elevates service standards with specialised training for department heads

Makerere University Main Building.

Makerere University ordered to pay Shs 343 million in graduation gown dispute after breach of contract

RECOMMENDED

Lawyer sentenced to five years for attempting to export elephant ivory hidden as wood samples

September 1, 2025

Silo Daycation turns one with a full-house celebration of music, flavor & Don Julio

September 1, 2025
  • 642 Followers
  • 23.9k Followers

MOST VIEWED

  • Uganda vs Senegal: CAF reduces online ticket purchases per person ahead of quarter-final clash this Saturday

    574 shares
    Share 230 Tweet 144
  • How to buy tickets for CHAN 2024 matches in Uganda

    552 shares
    Share 221 Tweet 138
  • FULL LIST: Winners and Losers in the NRM CEC Elections

    135 shares
    Share 54 Tweet 34
  • New Desire Luzinda nud3s leak: Is she back to naked past?

    242 shares
    Share 97 Tweet 61
  • Jose Chameleone’s wife Daniella Atim files for divorce over desertion and emotional neglect; Seeks custody of five children and ownership of Sseguku matrimonial home

    81 shares
    Share 32 Tweet 20
Matooke Republic

Uganda's only free Newspaper. Out every Thursday. Freshly peeled info. kiwatule, Kampala, Uganda.

  • Home
  • News
  • Entertainment
  • Gossip
  • Features
  • Business
  • Sports
  • Health
  • Photos

© Matooke Republic 2024

© Matooke Republic 2024

This website uses cookies. By continuing to use this website you are giving consent to cookies being used. Visit our Privacy and Cookie Policy.