Women’s Groups Push for Legalized Polyandry, Challenging Traditional Marriage Laws

The head of Women CSOs leaders, led by Rose Wakikona, the Deputy Executive Director of the NGO Women Pro Bono Initiative, along with her colleagues, presented their views to the Legal Affairs Committee of Parliament this week regarding the Marriage Bill currently under review.

They expressed their opinions on various aspects, including the necessity of enacting a new law that would legally allow women to have multiple spouses and be in more than one legally recognized marriage. Wakikona emphasized that this change would provide women with parity to men, who are already allowed to have multiple wives in polygamous marriages. She referenced Article 21 and other constitutional provisions that mandate equality between men and women.

Furthermore, she questioned why women should not be allowed to engage in their version of polygamy when men are permitted to do so. However, this submission was met with mixed reactions, leaving a bitter taste among Committee members. While some backed the idea, it was predominantly rejected by the majority.

Controversial MP, Hon. Fox Odoi, who previously opposed the LGBTQ law, argued that FIDA’s proposal deserved consideration. He stated that it is justified based on the constitutional provisions concerning gender equality.

Nevertheless, this proposal has already been dismissed by many Ugandans. As a predominantly conservative country, similar to many other African nations, this amendment is unlikely to succeed. While polygamy is a familiar and widely accepted practice, the notion of polyandry feels foreign to the general public and even to some women themselves.