Parliament Week 2020: Pastor Serwadda urges MPs to pass Marriage and Divorce Bill

By George Mangula

Pastor Joseph Serwadda has urged members of parliament to pass the the Marriage and Divorce Bill that has been shelved in parliament for years now mainly due to political and religious differences.

Serwadda was on Tuesday morning speaking at an interfaith prayer breakfast which was supposed to be led by Dr. Cyprian Kizito Lwanga, the Archbishop Kampala Archdiocese. The function was part of the Annual Parliament Week 2020 slated for January 20-25, 2020.

But Father Raymond Kalanzi representing Dr Lwanga, said: “Peace is a sustainable environment of justice, prosperity and equality. It is a climate of optimism.”

Father Kalanzi said that if transformation has to take place and begin with Parliament, then it must have the name of Jesus at the beginning.

Talking of the recent Africa Kwetu trek, Kalanzi said: “You have heard of the Africa Kwetu trek and it has raised a lot of controversies. Whatever you say, you are enjoying the peace in this country because of Luwero Triangle; so shut up.” “What is missing is forgiveness and reconciliation. We need to reconcile and we are doing it now.”

Meanwhile, the Speaker of Parliament Rebecca Kadaga launched ‘Bungeni’ an App for tracking the progress of bills. She also urged the Finance ministry to hold census of people living with Albinism in Uganda.

Kadaga affirmed that the major aim of the Parliament Week2020 is to provide an opportunity to the general public to freely interact with the leadership of the institution and also give them an opportunity to explore in detail how Parliament works.

Kadaga was joined at the function by the Government Chief Whip, Ruth Nankabirwa , several MPs and other dignitaries. They were entertained by children from Watoto Church.

Clerk to Parliament Jane Kibirige urged people to visit parliament during the period: “We urge you to ask your communities to come and visit Parliament. The ParliamentWeek2020 brings the public closer to us.”

The theme for the ParliamentWeek2020 is “Parliament: Building a strong democracy in Uganda.”