Kampala — THE Government is in the process of enacting a law that will require courts to divide wealth between a wife and a husband in case of divorce.

In addition to the Marriage and Divorce Bill, the Government is also working on the Domestic Violence, Administration of Muslim Personal Law and the Female Genital Mutilation Bills.

Gender state minister Rukia Nakadama on Friday said: "These laws will mostly protect women. The will help to solve problems related to divorce, violence, marital rape, forced marriage, forced pregnancy, dowry-related violence and genital mutilation, among others."

If passed in its present form, the Marriage and Divorce Bill will also allow cohabiting couples to divide the wealth accumulated in the time they stay together.

When dividing wealth, the domestic work done by the wives will also be considered.

The Bill also bans the payment of bride price, which it replaces with the giving of marriage gifts, which must not be mandatory. The Bill also gives authority to women to decide on the number of children they want to produce.

Presenting the Bill to MPs at Entebbe Imperial Resort Beach on Friday, Uganda Law Reform's Tessa Kawooya said: "Polygamy will not be allowed where customary requirements have not been adhered to."

However, several MPs reacted angrily to the Bill, saying it would create more problems in marriages.

Aswa MP Reagan Okumu argued that the Bill contradicts the time-tested African values and norms pertaining to marriage.

"In both Christianity and our African culture, divorce is discouraged. But this law encourages divorce rather than seeking to consolidate marriages," Okumu said.

Oyam South MP Isha Otto added: "Our cultures, values and norms should be protected against Western cultures. It is the skyrocketing immorality that has created the problems, not because the African measures have failed to work."

However, Kinkizi East MP Chris Baryomunsi said: "The Bill will help us to ensure that the human rights are adhered to and promote gender equality. I am sure many MPs will support it."

Nakadama said other Bills, which her ministry had drafted, would soon be tabled in the Parliament.