By Enyichukwu Enemanna
Members of the Ugandan Parliament have passed into law a bill seeking to increases paternity leave from four to seven days to enable male working employees to help their spouses.
“It ought to be appreciated that if we wish to have a society where men play an increased supportive role to their spouses, it is important that more time be accorded to male employees to help their spouses,” Flavia Kabahenda, the chairperson of parliament’s gender committee, said after the passage of the bill sponsored by the executive.
The parliamentarians said they are taking a cue from the neighbouring Kenya, which accords male working employees two weeks for paternity leave, state-owned New Vision reports.
The MPs said the increase would give men more time to support their spouses after childbirth.
The parliament, however, rejected a proposal to provide additional leave days from the current 60 days to 90 days for female employees who give birth to more than one child at the same time.
Attorney General Kiryowa Kiwanuka rejected the proposal describing it as extreme for the employers.
The bill has been forwarded to President Yoweri Museveni, whom the local media say is likely to assent into law.
