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UMSC Presents Key Concerns on the Marriage Bill 2024

14 February, 2025
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The Uganda Muslim Supreme Council (UMSC) has presented its response to the proposed Marriage Bill 2024, raising key concerns before the Parliamentary Committee on Legal Affairs.


The UMSC delegation was led by Counsel Haj Muhammad Ali Aluma, Deputy Secretary in charge of Administration & Finance.

The session was chaired by Haj Asuman Basalirwa, MP for Bugiri Municipality, who sat in for the Chairperson, Stephen Mugabi Baka, MP for Bukooli County North.  

During the presentation, UMSC emphasized the need for Parliament to enact the Administration of Muslim Personal Law Bill (2008) to operationalize Article 129(1) (d) of the Uganda Constitution. The delegation argued that this law is essential for the establishment of Qadhi courts to handle matters related to Islamic family law, ensuring that Muslim marriages, divorce, and inheritance are governed in accordance with Islamic principles.  

UMSC proposed amendments to align the bill with Islamic tenets, particularly in recognizing key aspects of Muslim marriage. The delegation underscored the importance of recognizing Mahr, the special marriage gift required in Islamic unions, and ensuring that the term Nikah, which refers to marriage in Islam, is reflected appropriately in legal definitions.

Asuman Basalirwa assured the delegation that their concerns would be carefully reviewed during the legislative process.  

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