Pastor
Joseph Sserwada, the leader of the Born Again Community in Uganda has
called for the passing of the Marriage and Divorce Bill which he says
has been on the shelves for long.
Speaking at the Parliament Inter-Faith Prayer Breakfast on Tuesday, 21
January 2020, Pastor Sserwada said that one of the things disturbing the
peace of the believers and followers of God is the absence of a robust
and clear law on Marriage.
“Recently we saw a Pastor whose marriage was on the rocks making
derogatory statements and acting irresponsibly against the institution
of marriage,” Sserwada said, adding that, “we need Parliament to come up
with Act to guard against watering down of the institution of
marriage.”
The prayers are held as part of the Parliament Week which is running from 20 to 25 January 2020.
Pastor Sserwada (L) confers with one of the guests at the Inter-faith prayer service
Sserwada said that the current marriage laws address very little in respect to the prerequisites of the other religious institutions in the country with the exception of the Muslims that are protected by law to have an exclusive right for marriage designed around their faith.
“There is need for a law that is tailored to and caters for marriage of people in other religious denominations, something that is absent in both the current laws on marriage and the proposed Marriage and Divorce law,” he added.
The 2009 Marriage and Divorce Bill seeks to reform and consolidate
the law relating to marriage, separation and divorce; to provide for the
types of recognised marriages in the country and marital rights and
duties.
The Speaker, Rebecca Kadaga said that having the church’s support will
go a long way in pushing for the Bill that has met the resistance of
‘patriarchs in positions of power’.
“It is the religious institutions that never supported us in the
beginning when we brought the current Bill; the laws that exist are
outdated having been imported here during the British rule more than 50
years ago,” she added.
She said that Mozambique and Kenya which are comparably macho societies
legislated for their citizens, friendly and conducive laws.
Kadaga urged the political and religious leaders to open up to discussing the Marriage and Divorce Bill.
Father Raymond represented Archbishop Kizito Lwanga
The main celebrant, Fr. Raymond Kalanzi who stood in for Archbishop
Cyprian kizito Lwanga urged the Members of Parliament to promote peace
which should be hinged on justice, equality and prosperity.
“We will experience peace and harmony if we promote reconciliation, transformation and liberation,” Fr. Kalanzi said.
He added that anyone who accepts reconciliation will experience
transformation which is change and anyone who resists it is an enemy of
peace.
“With transformation,” Fr. Kalanzi said, “comes liberation”.
