Uganda recently amended its old divorce law triggering a lot of bickering and disgruntlement in the corridors. While the old law provided that the couple was to share equally all properties owned at the time of divorce, the new one states that property should be divided according to each one’s contribution to its accumulation during the marriage. As the saying goes, the wind blows differently for different people. While some are celebrating, others, including myself, are skeptical because I know that the law is not gold however much it glitters.
In my opinion, a law that favours only the rich and powerful is not a good law. For instance, this law seems focused on only things that can be quantified yet there is more people contribute to a marriage that cannot be quantified. In a country that is yet to establish something as basic as a minimum wage, how will we quantify domestic work which is the bedrock of those who toil day and night to support homes and society at large? How can you quantify ideals such as kindness, patience, prudence, commitment or unconditional love that make homes what they are?
Uganda recently amended its old divorce law triggering a lot of bickering and disgruntlement in the corridors. While the old law provided that the couple was to share equally all properties owned at the time of divorce, the new one states that property should be divided according to each one’s contribution to its accumulation during the marriage. As the saying goes, the wind blows differently for different people. While some are celebrating, others, including myself, are skeptical because I know that the law is not gold however much it glitters.
In my opinion, a law that favours only the rich and powerful is not a good law. For instance, this law seems focused on only things that can be quantified yet there is more people contribute to a marriage that cannot be quantified. In a country that is yet to establish something as basic as a minimum wage, how will we quantify domestic work which is the bedrock of those who toil day and night to support homes and society at large? How can you quantify ideals such as kindness, patience, prudence, commitment or unconditional love that make homes what they are?
What about self-sacrifice and the sleepless nights caused by anxiety and worry over children that come with attendant challenges of parenting? I would like to know how much it costs to decongest a baby’s nose with your mouth when they cannot breathe deep in the night. Is it worth Shs100,000? What about one’s son’s pee straying into their eyes and nostrils?
Click to read more…
