Ugandan court scraps adultery law

A Ugandan court scrapped the nation's adultery law Thursday, saying it was unconstitutional and favored men.

Under the old law, a woman could be punished for having an adulterous relationship with a fine or a prison sentence of up to 10 years, while men were allowed to have such relationships without punishment. A woman's lover also could escape punishment.

"It is unfair for women being victimized and the men being left free," said Justice John Egwau, one of five judges who unanimously overturned the law at Uganda's Constitutional Court. "The adultery law is biased in favor of men."

The changes were prompted by a group of female lawyers called Law and Advocacy For Women.

"The ruling is good for all the women of Uganda," group leader Dora Byamukama said. "There is need for all women and men to be treated the same."

Some, however, said that they feared the ruling would encourage Ugandan women to stray and rebel against their husbands.

"Now the women are going to become stubborn," said Simon Mukasa, head of a group called Men in Development, which helps unemployed men. "Married women will go out with other men well knowing that there is no law against what they are doing."

The court also tossed out a law that denied widows the same rights and inheritance as widowers. A man now can legally leave his estate to his wife, rather than having his possessions go automatically to his relatives.