{"id":14879,"date":"2025-07-15T12:29:28","date_gmt":"2025-07-15T12:29:28","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/ugandaupdatenews.com\/?p=14879"},"modified":"2025-07-15T12:40:42","modified_gmt":"2025-07-15T12:40:42","slug":"court-affirms-constitutionality-of-polygamy-citing-cultural-and-religious-freedoms","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/prowebinhost.com\/anzu\/court-affirms-constitutionality-of-polygamy-citing-cultural-and-religious-freedoms\/","title":{"rendered":"Court Affirms Constitutionality of Polygamy, Citing Cultural and Religious Freedoms"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

Uganda\u2019s Constitutional Court has handed down a controversial decision – ruling that polygamous unions are constitutional. The landmark judgment now affirms the legality of polygamous marriages under customary and Islamic law.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

All the five justices led by lady Justice Margaret Tibulya dismissed a petition by the Women\u2019s Probono Initiative (WPI), which sought to invalidate laws permitting polygamy on grounds that they violate the rights of women and undermine principles of equality, dignity, and non-discrimination.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

WPI had petitioned the court to strike down provisions in the Customary Marriage (Registration) Act and the Marriage and Divorce of Mohammedans Act, arguing that polygamy perpetuates harm, emotional trauma, and exposure to HIV\/AIDS. The court, however, held that no sufficient evidence had been presented to support these claims.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

WPI had further argued that legalizing polygamy infringes on women\u2019s rights, exposes them to emotional and physical harm, and promotes gender inequality. The petition sought, among other things, a declaration that laws permitting polygamy violate Articles 21, 24, 31, and 33 of the Constitution, which protect equality before the law and human dignity.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

However in her lead judgement , Lady Justice Tibulya stated that the law does not require that all persons be treated identically, but that they be treated fairly under similar circumstances. She further noted that monogamous and polygamous unions are not directly comparable.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Tibulya observed that Uganda\u2019s constitutional guarantees allow individuals to marry according to their religious and cultural convictions. \u201cTo prohibit polygamy would infringe on people\u2019s freedom of conscience, religion, and culture,\u201d she added.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"\"\/<\/figure>\n\n\n\n

On claims of physical and psychological harm, the court ruled that such issues are broader societal challenges not exclusive to polygamous arrangements. \u201cThere was no compelling evidence that the structure of polygamy itself is harmful,\u201d Tibulya stated.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

In respect to quality, Justice Tibulya stressed that \u201cequality does not mean treating unlike situations alike.\u201d She explained that customary and Islamic marriages are rooted in distinct religious and cultural systems and should not be measured by monogamous standards.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

In regard to spreading HIV\/AIDS, the court found the claims unsubstantiated. \u201cThe petitioners failed to prove that polygamy causes physical or psychological harm or spreads HIV\/AIDS,\u201d Tibulya noted, adding that such challenges are better addressed through public health and social policy interventions.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The court denied all reliefs sought by the petitioners and ordered that each party bears its own costs. The ruling reinforces Uganda\u2019s legal pluralism in matters of marriage and is likely to shape future debates on gender rights and cultural identity.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Editor:msserwanga@gmail.com<\/strong><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

Uganda\u2019s Constitutional Court has handed down a controversial decision – ruling that polygamous unions are constitutional. The landmark judgment now<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":14880,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"jetpack_post_was_ever_published":false,"_jetpack_newsletter_access":"","_jetpack_dont_email_post_to_subs":false,"_jetpack_newsletter_tier_id":0,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paywalled_content":false,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paid_content":false,"footnotes":"","jetpack_publicize_message":"","jetpack_publicize_feature_enabled":true,"jetpack_social_post_already_shared":false,"jetpack_social_options":{"image_generator_settings":{"template":"highway","enabled":false},"version":2}},"categories":[436],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-14879","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-justice-law-order-sector-jlos"],"jetpack_publicize_connections":[],"jetpack_featured_media_url":"https:\/\/prowebinhost.com\/anzu\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/07\/download-4.jpg","jetpack-related-posts":[{"id":7960,"url":"https:\/\/prowebinhost.com\/anzu\/ugandan-constitutional-court-strikes-down-criminalization-of-offensive-communication\/","url_meta":{"origin":14879,"position":0},"title":"Ugandan constitutional court strikes down criminalization of \u2018offensive communication\u2019","author":"UgandaUpdate","date":"January 10, 2023","format":false,"excerpt":"In a unanimous decision by\u00a05 justices of the Constitutional Court , \u201csection 25 of the Computer Misuse Act has been nullified for being \"vague or overly broad to define the actual offence committed.\u201d The constitutional Court held that section 25 \u201ccurtails inherent freedoms of speech and expression that are guaranteed\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "National News"","block_context":{"text":"National News","link":"https:\/\/prowebinhost.com\/anzu\/category\/national-news\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"https:\/\/prowebinhost.com\/anzu\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/01\/unnamed-1.jpg","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/prowebinhost.com\/anzu\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/01\/unnamed-1.jpg 1x, https:\/\/prowebinhost.com\/anzu\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/01\/unnamed-1.jpg 1.5x, https:\/\/prowebinhost.com\/anzu\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/01\/unnamed-1.jpg 2x, https:\/\/prowebinhost.com\/anzu\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/01\/unnamed-1.jpg 3x"},"classes":[]},{"id":16703,"url":"https:\/\/prowebinhost.com\/anzu\/constitutional-court-declares-key-provisions-of-computer-misuse-law-unconstitutional\/","url_meta":{"origin":14879,"position":1},"title":"Constitutional Court Declares Key Provisions of Computer Misuse Law Unconstitutional","author":"UgandaUpdate","date":"March 18, 2026","format":false,"excerpt":"The Constitutional Court has declared several provisions of the Computer Misuse (Amendment) Act, 2022 unconstitutional, ruling that parts of the law violate fundamental rights guaranteed under the Constitution, including freedom of expression and access to information. In a unanimous decision by a five-justice panel, the court found that key sections\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "Law & Order"","block_context":{"text":"Law & Order","link":"https:\/\/prowebinhost.com\/anzu\/category\/law-order\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"","width":0,"height":0},"classes":[]},{"id":11806,"url":"https:\/\/prowebinhost.com\/anzu\/ugandas-constitutional-court-declines-to-nullify-in-its-entirety-the-anti-homosexual-law-refuses-to-issue-injunction-against-its-enforcement\/","url_meta":{"origin":14879,"position":2},"title":"Uganda’s Constitutional Court Declines To Nullify In Its Entirety The Anti- Homosexual Law, Refuses To Issue Injunction Against Its Enforcement","author":"UgandaUpdate","date":"April 3, 2024","format":false,"excerpt":"Uganda's constitutional court has declined nullify in its entirety the country's Anti Homosexual law. The court also rejected the petitioners prayer to issue an injunction against the law's enforcement in Uganda. The legislation was overwhelmingly passed by the national parliament in May last year. The decision was delivered by a\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "National News"","block_context":{"text":"National News","link":"https:\/\/prowebinhost.com\/anzu\/category\/national-news\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"https:\/\/prowebinhost.com\/anzu\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/04\/Screenshot-317-1024x576-1.png","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/prowebinhost.com\/anzu\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/04\/Screenshot-317-1024x576-1.png 1x, https:\/\/prowebinhost.com\/anzu\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/04\/Screenshot-317-1024x576-1.png 1.5x, https:\/\/prowebinhost.com\/anzu\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/04\/Screenshot-317-1024x576-1.png 2x"},"classes":[]},{"id":8943,"url":"https:\/\/prowebinhost.com\/anzu\/constitutional-court-nullifies-the-marijuana-law\/","url_meta":{"origin":14879,"position":3},"title":"Constitutional Court Nullifies the Marijuana Law","author":"UgandaUpdate","date":"May 5, 2023","format":false,"excerpt":"By Our Court Reporters The Constitutional Court in \u00a0sitting in Kampala has annulled the Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances (Control) Act, 2015 which had hitherto outlawed the sale and use of several narcotic drugs in the country because it was passed by parliament without the requisite quorum. The court ruling\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "Court"","block_context":{"text":"Court","link":"https:\/\/prowebinhost.com\/anzu\/category\/court\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"https:\/\/prowebinhost.com\/anzu\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/05\/Untitled-9.jpg","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/prowebinhost.com\/anzu\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/05\/Untitled-9.jpg 1x, https:\/\/prowebinhost.com\/anzu\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/05\/Untitled-9.jpg 1.5x, https:\/\/prowebinhost.com\/anzu\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/05\/Untitled-9.jpg 2x"},"classes":[]},{"id":10725,"url":"https:\/\/prowebinhost.com\/anzu\/controversial-pastor-ssempa-applies-to-join-defense-for-anti-homosexual-law-in-constitutional-court\/","url_meta":{"origin":14879,"position":4},"title":"Controversial Pastor Ssempa Applies to Join Defense for Anti-Homosexual law in Constitutional Court","author":"UgandaUpdate","date":"November 29, 2023","format":false,"excerpt":"Controversial Pastor Martin Ssempa of Makerere Community Church has petitioned the Constitutional Court to permit have him added as a respondent alongside the Attorney General in a case involving four petitions seeking to annul the Anti-Homosexuality law. The contested law which was passed by an overwhelming majority of members of\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "National News"","block_context":{"text":"National News","link":"https:\/\/prowebinhost.com\/anzu\/category\/national-news\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"https:\/\/prowebinhost.com\/anzu\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/11\/sepa3.jpg","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/prowebinhost.com\/anzu\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/11\/sepa3.jpg 1x, https:\/\/prowebinhost.com\/anzu\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/11\/sepa3.jpg 1.5x, https:\/\/prowebinhost.com\/anzu\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/11\/sepa3.jpg 2x"},"classes":[]},{"id":7745,"url":"https:\/\/prowebinhost.com\/anzu\/the-constitution-court-has-held-that-trial-of-civilians-in-military-courts-is-illegal\/","url_meta":{"origin":14879,"position":5},"title":"The Constitutional Court has held that trial of civilians in military courts is illegal","author":"UgandaUpdate","date":"December 20, 2022","format":false,"excerpt":"The Constitutional Court has in a \u00a0decision of three against two held that \u00a0that trying \u00a0civilians in military courts is unconstitutional. The majority decision of the court \u00a0held that under the 1995 Constitution, trying civilians is the role of civilian courts of judicature. \u201cI would declare that the UPDF Act,\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "Justice"","block_context":{"text":"Justice","link":"https:\/\/prowebinhost.com\/anzu\/category\/justice\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"https:\/\/prowebinhost.com\/anzu\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/12\/court-.jpg","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/prowebinhost.com\/anzu\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/12\/court-.jpg 1x, https:\/\/prowebinhost.com\/anzu\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/12\/court-.jpg 1.5x"},"classes":[]}],"jetpack_shortlink":"https:\/\/wp.me\/pc0aOV-3RZ","jetpack_sharing_enabled":true,"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/prowebinhost.com\/anzu\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/14879","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/prowebinhost.com\/anzu\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/prowebinhost.com\/anzu\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/prowebinhost.com\/anzu\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/prowebinhost.com\/anzu\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=14879"}],"version-history":[{"count":2,"href":"https:\/\/prowebinhost.com\/anzu\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/14879\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":14882,"href":"https:\/\/prowebinhost.com\/anzu\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/14879\/revisions\/14882"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/prowebinhost.com\/anzu\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/14880"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/prowebinhost.com\/anzu\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=14879"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/prowebinhost.com\/anzu\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=14879"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/prowebinhost.com\/anzu\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=14879"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}