Police have come out to condemn the utterances made by the Bugangaizi East Member of Parliament, Onesmus Twinamatsiko in which he encouraged the practice of beating up female spouses. Police say that what the legislator said is unacceptable and facilitates assault which is a crime according to the Penal Code Act.
On Friday last week, a day after the International Women’s Day, NTV sought the views of MP Twinamatsiko on the statement by President Yoweri Museveni describing men who beat their wives as corwards and fools.
However, in his comments during the NTV interview, the Bugangaizi East legislator said it was right to beat women in order “to streamline them”.
“I think the President erred. As a man, you need to discipline your wife… Touch her a bit, tackle her and beat her to streamline her and to get her in line,” MP Onesmus Twinamasiko said.
“If you don’t beat her, she might think you don’t love her. Back in the days, beating your wife meant that you loved her and that you wanted her to become a better person,” he further said
He in fact blamed the deteriorating conduct of married women to the failure by their husbands to beat them.
“When you don’t beat your wife, she will end up misbehaving. Beat her a bit. Even the Bible gives man the responsibility to prevail over women, so we [men] we have the authority”.
The video which has been circulating on social media has since sparked outrage among the public and women’s rights defenders, with many condemning Twinamatsiko’s statement as inappropriate. Many opine that given his leadership position, endorsing domestic violence was a show of irresponsibility.
Police Spokesperson, SSP Emilian Kayima in a statement on Tuesday said; “There is a video clip attributed to MP Onesmus Twinamatsiko encouraging violence against women….. If it is true, it would be very unfortunate, unforgivable”.
“What he [MP Twinamatsiko] is promoting is unacceptable as it facilities crime: assault (Penal Code Act), domestic violence (Domestic Violence Act 2010) and others,” Kayima wrote.
He added that Police is waiting for Parliament to institute an inquiry into the legislator’s statements as a way of holding the leader to the highest ethical standards.
“We have it on good authority that the Rt. Hon. Speaker of Parliament will soon institute an inquiry into these assertions. Why are the other leaders silent about these things? Must we not hold leaders to the highest ethical standards? We shall patiently wait for the action of parliament,” Kayima said.
Yesterday, Parliament’s Department of Communication said that Speaker, Rebecca Kadaga who is out of the country had directed that the Parliament Committee on Rules, Discipline and Privileges to inquire into the MP’s statements.
