By Ivan Ssali

X users are angry after the court dissolved the marriage of a former commissioner in the Ministry of Health.

Days ago, the court dissolved the marriage of Paul Kaggwa and his youthful wife, Peace. The marriage was dissolved on grounds of adultery on the part of the man.

While both parties were ordered to meet their own costs, High Court Judge Alice Komuhangi ordered Kaggwa to refund Peace Shs 2.8 million she spent on buying curtains. The couple was married for 19 years. They are said to have gotten married when Kaggwa was 50. The court also asked Kaggwa to give Peace a cow within a month. 

Peace did not have a share of the massive properties owned by the Kaggwas because they were registered in the name of Kaggwa’s daughter, a child from the previous marriage.

This judgment has, however, attracted too much anger on X (formerly Twitter).

“To be paid a refund Shs 2.8 million as a refund for your curtains as well as 1 cow after years of marriage shows how little women’s contributions are valued,” said Stella Kanyike.

“Our courts are refusing to progress and quantify women’s care work. It is so disheartening,” said Portia Uwera.

“Those two rulings are scary. If you are a woman in Uganda, you need to sit upright very fast,” said Apio Elit.

But Keeya Mwanje argues that “marriage is not a financial contract where you should expect monetary benefit upon divorce.”