This petition was filed by Law and Advocacy for Women in Uganda, an NGO. It is seeking for the following declarations and orders:-
(a) That the custom and practice of Female Genital Mutilation as practiced by several tribes in Uganda is inconsistent with the Constitution of the Republic of Uganda, 1995 to the extent that it violates Articles 2(2) 21(1), 24, 27(2) 32(2) and 33 thereof.
(b) As a result of this violation, the custom and practice of Female Genital Mutilation should be declared null and void and unconstitutional.
(c) No order is made as to costs in any event.
(d) Any other further declaration that this Honourable Court may deem fit to grant.
Conclusion: From the foregoing, it is clear beyond any doubt that the practice of Female Genital Mutilation is condemned by both the Constitution of Uganda and International Law. In particular, the practice contravenes the provisions of articles 21(1), 22(1), 24, 32(2), 33(1) and 44(a) of the Constitution.
This judgment is mainly for the purposes of putting the record right, because whilst the petition was pending in this Court, Parliament passed and assented to the Bill outlawing the practice of Female Genital Mutilation.