Uganda’s Speaker of Parliament, Rebecca Kadaga has asked men to let their wives work and not ask them about how much they earn.
She made the remarks on Friday evening while treating the Muslim community to Iftar fete held at Parliament.
Kadaga was responding to remarks made by Dr. Anas Kaliisa, who noted that Islam call for equality and respect to women as opposed to what many are made to believe that Islam is discriminatory against women.
Kaliisa called on Muslim men to enforce teachings in the Koran that emphasize men to pay their wives for breastfeeding infants and let them work.
Kadaga expressed shock at the revelation noting, “Dr. Kaliisa said a woman has a right to earn. I have heard that today. So when I go back to Kamuli, I must enforce the right to earn, but whether I will survive, I don’t know.”
She added: “So gentleman, you have heard it, it is in the Koran. Give the women an opportunity to work, don’t ask how much they have earned and don’t demand for it. They’re entitled to yours, but don’t ask from them.”
On being paid for breastfeeding, Kadaga said: “We have been reminded that these are regulations which are expected to be obeyed by the faithful.”
Parliament Iftar started in 2013 and has been held for its fifth time. It is a moment where members of Muslim community are treated to a prayer and food feast to break their fast during the fasting period.
In her address, Kadaga called for unity within the country, discouraging Ugandans against criminalizing the faith.
“We want to retaliate that we do not believe that all Muslims are killers and should be killed. So let us tolerate one another,” Kadaga said.
She also rebuked the killing of Muslim clerics and called for speedy investigations and prosecution, to bring the perpetrators to book.
The Parliament boss also expressed disappointment towards Government for failing to enact Regulations to govern the Islamic Banking Act.
Kadaga explained, “We have enacted the law on Islamic Banking. I am a bit frustrated that it has taken long to implement. I didn’t know that Regulations take two years. Each time I ask the Minister of Finance, he tells me; ‘you see I am working on regulations’.”
