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.
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.
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.
