04/12/2025
YAMBIO - The Speaker of the Western Equatoria State Legislative Assembly, Ann Tuna Richard, is pushing for a new law that would hold men legally accountable for abandoning pregnant partners and neglecting their parental responsibilities.
In an interview with Radio Miraya, Speaker Tuna said the number of women raising children alone has risen sharply, leaving many struggling emotionally and economically while the fathers βenjoy life as though they have no responsibility.β
βThere are a lot of women who are single mothers now,β she said. βYou will find that a man will impregnate a woman, but then he will not take the responsibility. These fathers are there, but they act like they have no obligations.β
The proposed legislation, now at its first reading in the state parliament would introduce strict penalties. Tuna says any man who impregnates a woman and fails to support her and the child could face a minimum of five years in prison. Under the bill, men who completely refuse parental responsibility may also lose all parental rights, with the child legally registered under the motherβs family.
βIf you impregnate a woman and you donβt take care of her and the child, you make her a single mother, you will go to prison for five years,β she said. βIf the man refuses completely to take the responsibility, the name of the child will be written on the mother.β
Tuna said the proposed law is a response to widespread social challenges in Western Equatoria, where she says some men take multiple partners despite lacking financial means to support them or their children.
βYou will see a man who does not have a strong financial background wanting to date two or three women,β she said. βIf you want to marry more than one wife, you must ensure you are financially strong and able to give the rights of all these women.β
She warned that the burden placed on women is contributing to early deaths, poverty and stalled personal development.
βWomen are dying at a young age because of too much responsibility that men are giving them,β she said.
Tuna added that irresponsibility by partners is also undermining womenβs educational and economic progress, noting that many girls drop out of school after unplanned pregnancies and never return.
βOnce a girl drops out with the responsibility of taking care of the child, it becomes difficult to go back to school,β she said. βYou will not find many women in institutions because they cannot continue with education due to responsibilities imposed by irresponsible men.β
She said neglected mothers often remain socially stuck, unable to move on with life or remarry and financially strained as any income they earn is spent on basics such as food and school fees.
βEconomically, even if you do business, you will not progress,β she said. βYou cannot do anything that will make you grow, like having a plot or a house of your own.β
The bill will move to a second reading in the coming weeks. Tuna says she hopes the legislation will reduce neglect, protect women, and reinforce a culture of responsible fatherhood across the state.
Source. Radio Miraya.
