CSOs propose changes to Sexual Offences Bill
Left to Right: Justice Eva Luswata, Ms Mary Lamunu and Dr Fred Ssekindi during the sensitisation workshop on the effective prosecution of sexual offenses against children in Jinja last week. PHOTO BY PHILIP WAFULA
JINJA- Civil society organisations have proposed amendments to the Sexual Offences Bill (2015), which they say will combat sexual violence in Uganda.
Dr Fred Ssekindi, the director of research at the Foundation for Human Rights Initiative (FHRI), while tabling more than 30 clauses, said: “We have highlighted recommendations to the memorandum on the Bill, looking at the lacuna in the law and see how they can be filled. Hope it will be consummately received.”
He made the remarks during a two-day sensitisation workshop on the effective prosecution of sexual offenses against children in Jinja at the weekend.
Key among the recommendations was that the definition of a sexual act remains vague as it leaves out internet, cybercrime and stalking.
Others were that the death penalty is inconsistent with international standards and the definition of a spouse only looks at those who are married yet findings show that more than 40 per cent Ugandans are cohabiting.
These, he said, leave out many Ugandans who would be beneficiaries to the Bill once it turns into law.
“There arises a challenge of classifying defilement according to age; this makes it seem a lenient sentence to other age groups,” Ms Diana Kagere, a representative of the Coalition on Sexual Offences, said.
Ms Mary Lamunu, the programme coordinator Uganda Women Parliamentary Association (UWOPA), also advocated for the setting up of a database for convicted sexual offenders.
According to Ms Lamunu, after key recommendations have been exhausted, they will be given to UWOPA that will in turn present them before the Legal Committee of Parliament for a public hearing.
Jinja resident judge Eva Luswata called for the embracing of key recommendations. “It is high time we took these recommendations seriously instead of making pronouncements that are like those of politicians,” she said. The Sexual Offenses Bill, which was tabled in 2016 by Kumi Woman MP Monica Amoding, seeks to consolidate all laws related to sex offences and spell out sanctions against offenders.
