By Juma Magino
BUSIA
Busia district Council has tabled before the council the Child Protection Bill which intends to ban and regulate Disco Matanga events in the district.
Disco Matanga is a popular event organized when a family loses someone to death. It is organized to help the grieving family raise funds through night fundraising from mourners with the money aimed at helping the family organize a decent burial for their loved one.
However, many local leaders and NGOs have criticized the manner in which Disco Matanga is organized in the community. They argue that the event has caused immoral habits and many innocent teenage girls have fallen victim to all sorts of sexual harassment, defilement and other gender based violence at Disco Matanga festivities.
Hon. Christine Nasisamba, the district vice LCV Chairperson disclosed that this Bill tabled on Thursday, 15th February, 2024 during council is intended to put a total ban on illicit activities that are associated with disco matanga. She added that many young girls have been forced into marriages by their parents after they get unwanted pregnancies from men who target them at disco matanga night activities.
She argued that the habit of holding disco matanga activities had no room in Ugandan culture but the move was copied from neighboring Kenya communities. She revealed that before tabling this bill, leaders have been carrying out consultative meetings with the community in areas like; Bulumbi, Sikuda, Buteba and others sub counties.
Hon. Charles Kudedi, the district speaker, who presided over the day’s special sitting at Macho-Chango hall referred the proposed bill to the committee of Social Services for more scrutiny and consultation from the other members on different committees before bringing it back for the next reading in the next 14 days.
The motion to pass the bill according to the Speaker was seconded by Hon. Godfrey Kyeyune who represents Buyanga Sub County.
Meanwhile, Hon. Stephen Mayende councilor Bulumbi Sub County opposed the proposed Bill calling it abnormal in nature. He said disco matanga is an event that is organized to help the grieving family mobilize funds to cater for the burial expenses of their loved ones.
He said he can only accept the bill to pass if the district leadership commits itself to offering financial help to those families who lose their loved ones. He added that his electorates urged him not to accept the passing of this Bill.
In his response, Mr. Alex Majjele the Chief Administrative Officer-Busia, advised the councilors and members on the Committee of Social Services to ensure that they scrutinize the bill very fast within 14 days as stated in the local government act.
On his part, Mr. Abdu Kalange a Youth Engagement officer at Action for Health Uganda an NGO that is facilitating and advocating for the district to pass this bill, told eastnews.co.ug that they carried out consultative meetings from over 6 sub-counties where they met mixed reactions in the community whereby majority of the people opposed the banning of Disco Matanga and instead proposed that the district should come out with regulatory measures to administer the fundraising as a substitute of abolishing it totally.
