Uganda: MP advises men to beat their wives (video)
A Ugandan MP, Onesimus Twinamasiko, has been called upon to apologize to victims of domestic violence after stating that men should beat their wives.
Onesimus Twinamasiko told the NTV television channel in Uganda: “As a man, you have to discipline your wife. You have to beat her a bit to put her on the rails.”
These statements angered Internet users and Ugandans. A women’s rights group in Uganda has said it should undergo therapy.
“Mr Twinamasiko should apologize to all the women who have been abused,” said Diana Kagere of the Domestic Violence Prevention Center (CEDOVIP) at the BBC.
“He should do this honorable thing and withdraw those statements, it’s really horrible that a member of Parliament can stand up for violence,” she added.
In an interview with the BBC Focus on Africa program, Twinamasiko tried to justify his remarks by referring to his own marriage.
"As a man, you need to discipline your wife…touch her a bit, tackle her and beat her to streamline her"- Onesmus Twinamasiko, MP, Bugangaizi East following comments by Museveni that men who beat women are cowards and should face the full wrath of the law pic.twitter.com/yhoEVRk212
— Patu™ (@KPatu_) March 11, 2018
“I do not mean blows that cause injury or death, but a slap,” he said. I was slapped once by my wife and had no problem with that, because we settled our differences. I had also slapped her once, she had hurt me,” he said.
For Ms. Kagere, Twinamasiko’s explanation is simply illogical. “We believe that there is no violent solution, you never know how far a slap can go. There are other ways to resolve disputes.”
She encouraged the men to consult the marriage counselors rather than beating their wives.
According to a government report released, at least two in five women between the ages of 15 and 49 were victims of domestic or sexual violence in Uganda last year.
In an effort to discourage this practice, President Yoweri Museveni said last week on the occasion of the celebration of Women’s Day that men who beat their wives or girlfriends are cowards!
