Uganda: Uganda's Widows Need More Than Laws On Matters Land

What the report says

A commentary published by The Independent in Kampala and distributed by AllAfrica argues that Ugandan widows still face serious barriers to keeping family land, even though the country already has legal protections on the books. The piece, dated 10 August 2026, says the problem is less about missing laws and more about weak enforcement, low awareness and everyday practices in courts, local councils and family settings.

The article points to several protections in Ugandan law, including constitutional equality guarantees, provisions in the Land Act requiring spousal consent for dealings in family land, and the Succession (Amendment) Act of 2022, which it says protects a widow’s principal residential home from eviction by extended family. It also notes that around 80% of land in Uganda is held under customary tenure, where unwritten clan-based norms can override formal rights in practice.

The author describes a recurring situation in which a husband dies and relatives move to take over land while the widow lacks a title, administration papers or legal support. The article says women may be able to use the Domestic Violence Act to seek protection orders if eviction is imminent, while calling on lawyers, bankers, officials and property actors to help ensure legal rights are actually enforced. The broader point is that paper protections are not enough if widows cannot access, understand or assert them.