KAMPALA, 21 February: Uganda is expected to have a law against female circumcision (omskæring) in the near future after a bill seeking to criminalize female genital mutilation was presented in Parliament on Wednesday.
The draft titled the Prohibition of Female Genital Cutting Bill defines female genital mutilation as violation or attempted violation of the physical integrity of the female organ, either by total or partial ablation, excision, infibulations or desensitization.
If enacted, a person found guilty of engaging in the practice is liable to imprisonment of between seven to 10 years or a fine of not less than 1 million Ugandan shillings (about 600 US dollar).
Members of Parliament (MPs) on the parliamentary forum on population, food security and development, together with members of the Uganda Womens Parliamentarians, supported the draft bill.
– The practice is the worst form of abuse against women. It is crude and painful and it must stop, MP Margaret Baba Diri was quoted by state-owned New Vision on Thursday as saying.
According to the draft bill, an offender who is a member of the medical field risks losing their license if they are found engaging in the act.
The document does not consider beliefs, custom, tradition, ritual or consent as valid defense. The MPs, however, called for a death penalty if the victim dies.
– The 1 million shillings fine is nothing, death should be the ultimate penalty, said MP Christopher Kibanzanga, flanked by MP Grace Oburu, calling for tougher laws.
The bill, which was drafted by East African Legislative Assembly MP Dora Byamukama, also the director of the Law and Advocacy for Women in Uganda, would soon be presented to the House.
Female circumcision is a practice which involves the cutting of parts of the external female genitalia. In Uganda, it is mainly practiced among the Sabiny and the Pokot clans.
Kilder: Xinhua og The Push Journal
