KAMPALA – Wakiso District Woman Member of Parliament, Hon. Betty Ethel Naluyima, is at the forefront of renewed efforts to advance long-delayed gender-related legislation in Uganda.
Naluyima, who also serves as Shadow Minister for Gender, Labour and Social Development and Publicity Secretary of the Uganda Women Parliamentary Association (UWOPA), is using these platforms to advocate for legislation aimed at strengthening the protection of women, children and families.
This week, she joined the UWOPA leadership in a strategic engagement with civil society organisations, including the Centre for Domestic Violence Prevention (CEDOVIP) and Akina Mama wa Afrika (AMwA), to discuss ways of advancing the Sexual Offences Bill and the Marriage Bill.
During the engagement, Naluyima emphasised the need for Parliament to address legislative gaps affecting women and families, noting that delays in passing the proposed laws continue to raise concerns about the protection of citizens from sexual violence and challenges arising from outdated family laws.
The meeting focused on strengthening collaboration between Parliament and civil society, increasing public awareness about the proposed legislation, and mobilising legislators to support the bills as they move through the parliamentary process.
Naluyima also highlighted the importance of gender-responsive legislation in addressing challenges faced by communities, including domestic violence, sexual offences and issues relating to women’s rights within families.
The engagement brought together parliamentary and civil society actors to strengthen advocacy and build wider support for the proposed legislation, with participants stressing the importance of sustained collaboration in pushing the bills forward.
As UWOPA Publicity Secretary and Wakiso District Woman MP, Naluyima said she would continue advocating for the Sexual Offences Bill and Marriage Bill, while ensuring that concerns affecting women and families in Wakiso and across Uganda remain part of the national legislative agenda.
