By Juma Nsubuga

The speaker of parliament Rebecca Kadaga yesterday granted MPs a two weeks recess to enable them to consult their voters about the controversial marriage and Divorce Bill.

The two weeks holiday comes following several demands by male legislators that the bill should be halted for consultations.

The Speaker wants to consultations from key stake holders such as religious and cultural leaders on contentious clauses in the bill like forced intimacy  and rights to property for those cohabiting .

The NRM MPs are  in meeting at State House Entebbe to discuss  the Marriage and Divorce Bill.

The bill tabled in December 2009 provides for the types of recognized marriages in Uganda, marital rights and duties, recognition of cohabitation in relation to property rights, sets grounds for breakdown of marriage, and provides for rights of parties on dissolution of marriage.

It deals with widow inheritance and separation, but also outlaws demands for return of marriage gifts given as bride price.

The bill is a product of a comprehensive study by the Uganda Law Reform Commission and similar studies including the Commission of Inquiry into the Marriage, Divorce and Status of Women (Kalema Report) of 1965.