Legislators want Defilement age pushed to 21 years

 

Uganda Women Parliamentarians are set to table a bill in Parliament seeking for the increase of consent age for girls from 18 years to 21 years.

The Buyende District Woman Member of Parliament Ms Veronic Kadoko on Sunday said this is being pushed through the Uganda Women Parliamentary Association.

Ms Kadoko who was speaking during the launch of the PMM Girls School Old Girls fundraising drive for the construction of a physics laboratory set to cost Shs 10 million said the move is intended to reduce on the rates of girls dropping out of school after senior six.

‘’We realized that the current law on defilement is favoring more on boys who are being allowed to marry at the age of 21-years which reached when one has almost finished University education and we want this to be the same with the girls who are being authorized to to be married at the age of 18 years’’Kadoko said.

She said the Association has already met and agreed on the changing of this defilement law awaiting for presentation in Parliament for amendment.

Ms Kadoko said once this bill is passed, anyone found in marriage with a girl under 21 years will be liable to being prosecuted in courts of law.

Written by David Kugonza