Museveni cautions on polygamy

President Museveni lays a foundation stone for St Patricia Girls Secondary School Muhito project in Sheema District last Saturday. PHOTO BY Alfred Tumushabe

What you need to know:

Mr Museveni said resources like land for farming get sub-divided into small pieces as shares are parceled out to family members

Kampala.
President Museveni has advised men against marrying many wives, saying this undermines family cohesion and sustainable use of resources.

“Don’t marry anyhow. If you marry many wives, they will not have the same focus and spirit. They will not work together,” Mr Museveni said.

He was on Saturday speaking during the centenary celebrations for St Patricio Muhito Catholic Parish Church in Sheema District.

He said joint family projects can only succeed if the children are very close brothers and sisters. “If a woman is producing, why do you add another one?” he asked.

Mr Museveni said resources like land for farming get sub-divided into small pieces as shares are parceled out to family members.

This, he pointed out, fails meaningful production for profitable projects that would have generated income for the family.

Do it if you can afford
The President said this is not possible in situations where a man has more than one wife. The president however said those who can afford to look after many wives can marry them but put them apart.

He said it is not proper for a father to bequeath property, especially land, to boys and leave out girls. He said his father, who died last year at the age of 97, gave his daughters property other than land because that is how he wanted it.

“It is not proper to leave out girls on pretext that they will inherit land from their husbands.Me, I give property including land to all my children. I don’t think it is in order to leave out girls. What if there is no land where they have married. It is not a law (to give them land) but I think it is right,” Mr Museveni said.

Left to free will
Whereas women rights activist Miria Matembe was pushing men and women to inherit land from their parents ,the President said this should not be made compulsory.

Mr Museveni gave Shs30 million towards the establishment of St Patricia Girls Secondary School, a church-initiated project.

He asked residents of Sheema to desist from encroaching on wetlands, saying it is against God’s plan ‘who created hills, swamps and valleys for the various purposes.’

He advised people to observe the practices that promote good health to be able to have good brains and live longer.

”In September this year, I will be 70 years old. I have been able to fight wars because of good health,” he said.

Mr Museveni urged them to feed well, observe proper sanitation, immunise children, fight malaria and avoid drinking alcohol, smoking and prostitution.