This kind of attitude can largely be blamed on the lack of confidence in such people's own marriages at home and they now want to get security through legislation.
This I say following arguments presented by some legislators and other stakeholders calling for the immediate ban on polygamy as proposed in the Domestic Relations Bills (DRB) to be presented in Parliament soon.
I must commend The Monitor for its editorial on November 15. Though there were particular issues I would personally dispute therein, but the attempt to present a balanced piece is worth commending.
We need to set the record right from the very beginning of this piece. Although Islam allows polygamy, it is not compulsory for each and every Muslim to indulge in the practice.
One's ability and choice will entirely determine the number of women to marry, bearing in mind that Islam limits the number to only four. This is dwelt with at length by the prophetic traditions that clearly state that a man must have adequate energies to satisfy the women sexually and materially.
It makes no sense to get two women if the man very well knows that he cannot sexually satisfy even a single woman. The Koran is very clear on this, as it is outlined in the following scripture.
"Marry women amongst women of your choice two, three or four but if you fear that you cannot justly deal with them, marry one...." [Koran 4:3]
But one of the grave mistakes that those calling for the ban on polygamy make, is that they always work on the assumption that polygamy is a must for each and every Muslim. Exactly this is where Muslims find a bone to grab with those against polygamy.
Mwenge South MP Dora Byamukama ought to consult with Muslim leaders to get a correct understanding of the teachings of Islam on the subject? In her recent submission as quoted in The Monitor, November 14, Byamukama reportedly said if Bangladesh a Muslim country outlawed polygamy why can't Uganda, a 'Christian country' do so.
People need to understand that Islam as a religion does not rely on what other people feel is right but what the Koran says is right. Secondly, because Bangladesh banned polygamy for reasons best known to them Muslims in Uganda are not obliged to follow suit because we do not follow Bangladesh on religious guidance and practice. The Koran is there to guide us.
I fear for such reasoning because it would not come as a surprise if one day such legislators calls on the Church of Uganda to consecrate gay bishops simply because Christians in New Hampshire feel there is nothing wrong with it. God Forbid.
Besides, Bangladesh according to Brother Abdu Nasir Katongole of the Inter Religious Programme [INTERPRO] is a country with the largest number of 'Murtads'. (Those who have denounced Islam). Accordingly expectations of those pushing for legislation on polygamy is that when the bill comes into law it will help in reducing on domestic violence and divorce rates.
I may not present figures and statistics here but it is common knowledge that Western countries have the largest numbers of divorce and broken families than any other in the world.
Have our legislators taken trouble to establish the cause of this anomaly and yet people in the West practice monogamy?
What explains the high divorce figures and separations? In fact, the single motherhood movement did not develop in Uganda where we have polygamy but in the West where women are expected to have all the love and protection from their husbands because by law and practice a man only marries one wife.
Besides there is something fishy with the domestic relations bill because on the one hand it seeks to ban monogamy on other it okays cohabiting. If this is not hypocrisy then what is it?
I do not see any logic in banning a man who seeks legally to get two women and then going ahead and allowing one to cohabit with another woman with full rights like the one at home. Let us be realistic in some of our aspirations.
But most seriously Islam is a religion that practices polygamy as part of its faith, and according to the Ugandan constitution there is religious freedom.
Trying to ban a practice of one's faith and imposing on them practices of other faiths can be the most unfortunate thing. I do not know how those who drafted this bill thought Muslims would accept their proposal on polygamy.
Besides during one of the workshops organised by Muslims in the late 1990's to discuss the draft bill, many Muslim leaders at the meeting held in the Sheraton Hotel's ballroom, expressed ignorance on the claim in the draft that said
Muslims were extensively consulted on the DRB.
I think it is time that the legislators try to strike a balance knowing very well that Uganda is a multi-religious society and any slight mistake may cause more problems than they ought to solve. Otherwise, I believe if passed
as echoed earlier Muslim leaders and their followers will not allow the law to take effect.
Mr Wetaka can be reached
on 077 609736.
