By eastafrican gazette
During the period from May 27, 1971 to the end of 1979 in Uganda, women were required to dress modestly in public.
President Gen. Idi Amini Dada signed a decree on May 27, 1971, which prohibited the wearing of mini dresses/skirts, hot pants/denim shorts, and short dresses/skirts.
Women were only allowed to wear clothing that was longer than three inches above the knees, such as hijabs, long dresses, skirts, and busuti (gomesi).
Additionally, the president also enforced a ban on wearing slippers and wigs in the city. Those who violated these rules would face consequences from law enforcement.
Monica Mutesi shared that individuals who failed to comply were held in police custody until evening, cautioned, and then allowed to return home.
“Today, if I look at what women wear these days, they wouldn’t survive the 1971 decree. But here we are, the situation has gone worse and some elderly people are no longer putting on pants or petticoats. They simply dress to compete with the young people,” she said.
Since the overthrow of Gen. Amin, Ugandan women have since gained their freedom and can dress the way they want.
Tanzanian Army and rebel forces successfully captured Kampala in 1979 and ousted Amin from power. Amin went into exile, first in Libya, then Iraq, and finally in Saudi Arabia, where he lived until his death in 2003.
Court outlaw’s miniskirt bill
The Constitutional Court of Uganda also scrapped a controversial 2014 Anti-Pornography Law whose provisions included a ban on wearing miniskirts in public. The move by the court followed a protest by the women’s rights groups.
According to the judgement, that law was “inconsistent with or in contravention of the constitution of the republic of Uganda.”
“Sections … of the Anti-Pornography Act are hereby declared null and void,” Justice
The legislation criminalised any activity deemed pornographic, from wearing short skirts to writing risqué songs.
In 2014, Ugandan pop star Jemimah Kansiime was arrested for performing in a music video that showed her in her underwear. Currently on trial, she faces up to 10 years in jail, although the future of the case is unclear because of the new ruling.
PS dress code
The Ministry of Public Service in 2017 issued a dress code for non-uniformed officers in the public service.
Section F-J of the Uganda Public Service standing orders,2010 provides for dress code in the public service, specifically, paragraph 4 stipulates that a public officer is required to dress decently and in the general acceptable standards in the Uganda Community.
The decision was made in response to ongoing concerns about inappropriate attire that does not reflect positively on the public service and does not meet the community’s standards.
Female employees are expected to wear skirts that fall below the knees, paired with a professional long or short-sleeved blouse, and it is important that their clothing covers the cleavage, knees, navel, and back, and they should not wear open-toed shoes to work, among other guidelines.
Male employees are required to wear tidy trousers, long-sleeved shirts, a jacket, and a tie. Open-toed shoes are only permitted with a doctor’s recommendation, and tight-fitting trousers are not allowed. Additionally, only black and brown shoes should be worn within the office premises.