Cleavage ban for Uganda civil servants

Public servants in Uganda are facing a strict dress code after the government issued a circular warning them to "dress decently".

Female staff have been told not to show any cleavage, wear brightly coloured braids or hair extensions, sleeveless blouses or any clothing made out of see-through material.

Men must wear long-sleeved shirts, jackets and ties, and loose trousers.

Staff failing to comply will be disciplined.

The guidelines, issued by the Ministry of Public Service apply to all non-uniformed civil servants. But there is a feeling that female staff are the main focus on the new rules.

While women will be allowed to wear pant-suits, they have been warned not to wear any tight-fitting clothing. Dresses and skirts must at least be knee-length.

The circular further states that accessories should be modest, and women should not have bright hair colour, braids or extensions.

Flat, open shoes are also ruled out, except in cases where one can prove that it is for medical reasons.

Men have been told they should keep their hair short and neat, and not wear brightly coloured clothes.

The circular is derived from Public Service Standing Orders on dress code, put in place in 2010.

However, the BBC's Patience Atuhaire in Kampala says the dress code does not seem to have been paid much attention to up to now.

A spokesperson for the ministry says that staff who fail to comply with the newly enforced rules will be cautioned at first, and repeat offenders will face disciplinary action.

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