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{
    "id": 1268726,
    "url": "https://info.mzalendo.com/api/v0.1/hansard/entries/1268726/?format=api",
    "text_counter": 53,
    "type": "speech",
    "speaker_name": "Kigumo, UDA",
    "speaker_title": "Hon. Joseph Munyoro",
    "speaker": null,
    "content": "I rise to support the Bill by Hon. Gikaria on repealing of the Penal Code, especially on the issue of being idle and disorderly - which cannot be defined properly. It is abused, especially to arrest our young people in shopping centres. Being jobless does not mean you are idle and disorderly. As Hon. Murugara has said, these are laws which were basically meant to emasculate the black person during the colonial times. We were unable to congregate and speak with one voice. This is the right time to repeal this section. It talks about “a person causing, procuring or encouraging any person to beg or gather for alms.” We know that there are many people who are in dire need in our society. It is not African for you to turn people away if they are hungry and they do not have food. That should not be criminalized. We have suffered thoroughly from drought and famine. Telling people not to go and beg might be introducing issues we do not understand into our society. For that reason, I think it should be repealed. There is another clause which states that “every person who, without lawful excuse, publicly does any indecent act...” This needs to be defined. For example, we have societies where people dress in shukas . How do you define them? This is our culture. It is important for the law to be clear so that it is not abused or disenfranchises some people. We have also not been very clear when we say that someone “behaves in a manner likely to cause a breach of peace.” What does that mean? Is it shouting or fighting in public? I do not know. We need a definition. I support this amendment Bill. We need to look at the law and the Penal Code, so that we know the areas that do not serve any purpose. We should not try to emasculate and oppress our people with laws that were made by the colonialists so that they could handle us. With those remarks, I support the Bill."
}