In Uganda, the norm is for men to leave their wives with some ka money to take care of an array of home needs. The money has been termed as “Kameeza Money” in common-speak. It’s termed so because most men leave it on the table (kameeza).
But now some feminist lawyers are literally shaking the kameeza (table) as they want husbands to provide a specified and full salary to housewives.
In a meeting held physically and virtually at the Mestil Hotel in Kampala yesterday, feminist lawyers from East Africa say that EAC should enact a law providing for mandatory compensation for family care work done women. In short; husbands should pay housewives.
Patricia Bigiirwa Twasiima, a feminist lawyer and programme officer at Segal Family Foundation says that restrictions imposed to curb the spread of Covid-19 and job cuts affected men more than women. She noted that many of such women are now doing house work without pay.
“Most women cannot contribute to the economic development of their countries because they spend many hours at home doing unpaid work. This is the reason the majority of women don’t own properties because they don’t earn a penny,” Esther Amati, a Kenyan lawyer.
She says other East African countries should follow the example of Kenya that is considering enacting a law that will ensure women who do house chores are paid some money at the end of the month or be entitled to a portion of wealth accumulated by their husbands.