Ugandan MP advises men to ‘beat’ their wives in order to ‘streamline’ them

Ugandan MP has come under serious fire after he said men need to “beat” their wives in order to discipline them. 

Now he is trying to back track after saying that men need to “beat” their wives a form of discipline in a television interview.

Speaking on Ugandan news channel NTV, Bugangaizi East MP Onesimus Twinamasiko said that “as a man you need to discipline your wife”.

Touch her a bit, tackle her and beat her somehow to really streamline her.

His controversial comments were in response to claims from Ugandan President Yoweri Musevei who said that men who beat women are “cowards” and should be brought to justice under the law.

Mr Twinamasiko’s interview has caused outrage from women’s rights groups, with one leading organisation demanding he make a public apology.

Mr Twinamasiko should make a public apology to all women who have experienced violence,” Diana Kagere of the Center for Domestic Violence Prevention (CEDOVIP) told the BBC.

He should do the honourable thing and withdraw that statement. It’s really a shock that a member of parliament would justify violence in any way. This is about crime.

Some social media users are also calling for the Ugandan MP’s resignation, using the hashtag “OnesmusTwinamasikoMustResign”.

Following the wave of criticism he received, Mr Twinamasiko attempted to clarify his comments during an interview with BBC Focus on Africa, saying that he didn’t condone beatings that result in death or injury, but a slap is “fine”

I don’t mean beatings which cause injuries or death — but a slap — I would feel fine! Because it’s calling me to order. We would sit down and sort it out, he said.

I was slapped once by my wife and it was OK with me, because we sorted out our differences. I also slapped her once. She had wronged me.

He went on to claim that more families are breaking down because beating isn’t as accepted in modern society.

You know in African traditional society we had more stable families simply because beating was acceptable as a form of punishment,” he said.

Unlike today when families are really breaking down and divorce is on the increase, as well as separations.

According to a government report published last year, more than one in five women aged 15-49 have experienced domestic or sexual violence in Uganda.

He has since apologized for his remarks.