Information is Power

The central division, Arua City deputy resident city commissioner Mr Ezama Ham Mizamil who first got appointed as the deputy RDC for Arua District in March 2022, and a year later transferred to central division Arua City is planning to organize a massive thanksgiving ceremony to appreciate God and the appointing authority, President Yoweri Kaguta Museveni for entrusting him to serve the people and Country in that position of RDC. The event which is slated to take place in May-2024, seeks to attract different categories of people from government, the business fraternity and the wananchi across the country. Stay tuned here for more. #iip_updates  #Information_is_Power  #we_inform_the_uninformed

Mase was selling ‘lugabile’ when she made her first will and then one day an ‘investor’ took interest in her business and started exporting her business products to other countries. Since then, Mase bought a house, and 3 lorries, a farm and 5 plots of land. But every time she looks at her will, it makes her look like she is still broke and struggling. Is a will final will or can she make another?   WHAT DOES THE LAW SAY? A will is a legal document which shows how a person wants their property to be distributed and dealt with when they die. This means that if a person is still alive, they can change their mind and sell some property, or even get new property. So, a will is only final if it is what you have at the time you pass away.  This means that as long as you are still alive, you can change your will or even destroy it and make a new one altogether. This is so that it reflects what your actual wishes are at the time. So, if you get children or a spouse or get a buyer who w...

While pledging support for the completion of the Mothers’ Union house, Kamya expressed frustration about handling corruption complaints in her office, noting the lack of tangible evidence as they are often dealt with discreetly. “Corruption is killing this nation. In the office I sit in, I am the one who gets these corruption complaints, but the most disturbing thing is there is no evidence, it is always done under the table. I have the instruments of power to put these people down, but it’s done between two people, in closed doors in the dark. So, my instruments of power have become useless.” Kamya said. Rt. Rev. Canon Moses Banja, the Bishop of Namirembe Diocese with Mothers' Union members while the collected offertory. (Photo by Dallen Namugga) She made these remarks on Wednesday, March 27, 2024, during a St. Mary's Day celebrations service held at St. Stephen's Church of Uganda in Kabowa. Women belonging to the association, hailing from various parts of Kampala and Waki...

  Nakalembe lost all trust in human beings when she lost her husband in an accident. Some of her in-laws showed up and carried everything off that was in the house. Luckily, some things were left in Kampala, and there was a lot of money in the bank.  Nakalembe has never remarried, and her four children are growing up well. All except Jembe, who joined the local gang which uses weighing stones to rob people. Jembe has even sold his mother's chairs to get money to bet. Nakalembe is worried that if one day she dies, Jembe will sell or take away all the property she has worked for and leave nothing for his sister and brothers. She wants to write a will because they told her it will protect her property. Her only issue is she does not trust anyone to see or touch her will. So, can she keep it secret and not let anyone write or sign on it? Must she have a witness sign, or can she announce in a family meeting that she has a will? WHAT DOES THE LAW SAY? A witness is a person who knows...

  Irene went to a camp in Mabira forest with some friends. It was going well until she got lost. She started panicking and thought she would end up being eaten by a wild animal. She also started thinking about her property. She decided to record her Will in the form of a voice note and share it with a family group. Of course, she made it out of the forest, but she wants to know if one can record a Will if they can’t write in such circumstances.   WHAT DOES THE LAW SAY?   Unfortunately, Irene’s Will would not be valid. Recording a Will sounds easy, especially with the development of technology. However, our laws require us to write down our Wills. A will is an important document that shows your properties, the people you value (beneficiaries) and how this property should be shared. You really need time to sit down and accurately write this. In the event that you acquire new property, you can edit your Will or even create a new one.    However, just like they say,...

When a parent chooses a guardian for their children in a will (known as a testamentary guardian) while the other parent is alive, the law states that the guardian and the parent will take care of the children together. Both the parent and the guardian will have the same rights to the child, such as living with the children or making decisions for the children. The surviving parent have full rights by fact of being a biological parent and the guardian as well because the deceased parent of the child will have passed on these rights. The guardian, upon being appointed, has full parental rights, which they can pass on by appointing another guardian to the children in their will as well.  The law does not limit it to one parent to choose a guardian for the children. Both parents can choose guardians for their children. When the parents have chosen separate guardians, they must care for the children together. The law does not dictate whom a parent chooses as a guardian if the person is ...

   Milka’s mother died two years ago and she left for Milka and her sisters all the property that she owned. There were houses, two cars and about three pieces of land. Milka and her sister now want to transfer the property that their mother left for them into their names. However, their uncle Mujjawa told them that they have taken too long to ‘legally’ inherit the property into their names meaning that they do not want it and he is now the one entitled to take it.  WHAT DOES THE LAW SAY?   In Uganda, the law regarding the time limit for claiming inheritance may vary depending on several factors, including whether there was a Will or not. Although there is not a strict time when you are supposed to claim your inheritance, there are procedures and timeframes for executing the Will and transferring property to the beneficiaries.    If there was a Will, you will have to apply for probate. Probate is a legal process where the court verifies the will's legitima...

  Naka went to see the doctor and received the worst news. The doctor said that her condition is not getting worse and she needs to have a risky surgery done on her. Naka has been worried after her last doctors visit since she has young children and her husband left them 6 years ago. Naka has worked hard and has a number of businesses and rental that can help to take care of her children, but she is wondering if she can include in her will that her sister Kizza should be the one to take care of her children if anything happened to her.   WHAT DOES THE LAW SAY? A guardian is a person who is not the biological parent of a child (person below the age of 18 years) but they are legally recognised to have parental responsibility over the child. Besides distributing property in a will, a parent can as well appoint a guardian for their children. This guardian is known as a testamentary guardian. When a parent is choosing a guardian for their child, they have to keep in mind that both ...

Namutebi recently found out that her husband had another woman called Nancy. In fact, Nancy is in the university, and she is now pregnant. When Namutebi found out about Nancy she became very ill. She was stressed and her blood pressure rose so highly that she had to be admitted in the hospital. When she came out of hospital, she decided to write her Will where she wrote that her husband should not marry Nancy or any other person if she dies and if he goes ahead to marry, he should not inherit any of her property.  WHAT DOES THE LAW SAY? In Uganda, the law states that any person who is 18 years of age and above, can write a Will stating how they would want their property to be distributed when they pass away. However, there are laws that govern writing Wills, and you should not use your Will to infringe or limit another person’s right. The Constitution in Uganda provides that every person has the right to marry and form a family if they are eighteen years of age and above.  Thi...

  Mr and Mrs Zzake have always believed in building family wealth together. They jointly own several pieces of land and even have a joint bank account. They decided to write a will so that their children are guided on how the estate should be handled when they die.   Mr Zzake said since most of their property is joint property, they cannot put it in the will. He said wills only allow property owned by one person.   WHAT DOES THE LAW SAY?   According to the law, jointly owned property like land is passed on to the surviving owner when the other owner dies. For example, if Mr Zzake dies first before Mrs Zzake, then the land they own together as joint tenants automatically becomes hers.   Therefore, if they write a joint will, it should be clearly stated that upon the death of one of them, the surviving spouse will take over all the property as theirs. This can also be mentioned if the two write individual wills.   However, in land law, there is a situation ca...

  Bato fears death. Even when people start talking about death, he runs away from them. Recently, his wife told him that he should write a will so that their children are protected in case he dies. Bate immediately locked himself in his office and drunk 7 bottles of alcohol until he was drunk. His friends had told him that alcohol can give him courage. After he got drunk, he got a pen and started to write his will. He forgot some of his property and even some of his children’s names. Is this will valid?   WHAT DOES THE LAW SAY?   According to the Succession Act, a person is not allowed to make a will when their mind is in a state where they do not know what they are doing.   This state of mind could be brought about by illness or drunkenness.   If there is proof that at the time when the person was writing the will, they did not understand what they were doing, then that will is not valid. It is important to note that someone can be intoxicated (have drugs or al...

  Naki and Sebi had been friends for a very long time. When Sebi was buying land, he even called Naki to be the witness to the land sale agreement. She signed the documents and witnessed the sale. Two years later, as Naki was writing her will, she told the lawyer to add that land she had witnessed. She said it counted as her property because she put her signature on the documents. Her lawyer refused to do it and said he cannot put property that does not belong to her. Now Naki is confused because she believes the property belongs to her.   WHAT DOES THE LAW SAY?   According to the Succession Act of Uganda, a person writing a will is only allowed to give property that they own.This means there must be proof to show that you own the property you are giving away in your will.Naki in our example was only a witness not an owner so she cannot put that land in her will as hers.   If one wants to give away land, they should have the land title in their name that proves owner...

My wedding is in two weeks’ time, but a big opportunity to represent my company at the international level has come up. I have waited for this opportunity for a lifetime. I want to wed but I also don’t want to miss this opportunity in my career path. I have an identical twin sister and I want her to be the one walking down the aisle. My partner has agreed, and we are sure the priest won’t be able to notice. The plan is for us to link up with my husband at the honeymoon venue. However, we want to know if we are right under the law.   WHAT DOES THE LAW SAY? The law in Uganda allows people who are 18 years and above to marry. For a marriage to be valid, certain things are required by the law: The people intending to get married must have given their consent to the marriage, they must be 18 and above, and the marriage should be conducted before a person who is allowed to officiate marriages. It should also be conducted before a place licensed for marriage ceremonies. (If the place i...

Mulumba and Nasozi have been married for the last fifteen years. Over the years, they started a hardware company and have become very rich. Two months ago, Mulumba fell ill and was admitted to the hospital. Mulumba thinks that he may be passing away soon and told Nasozi that he will be leaving some of his property to her but some will be left to the mother of his other children, Nandi, that Nasozi did not know about. Now Nasozi is wondering what Mulumba will leave in his Will for her. WHAT DOES THE LAW SAY? In Uganda, the law regarding wills and inheritance allows people to distribute their property in any way they want after their death. Therefore, Mulumba, being married to Nasozi, has the option to leave part or all of his property to her in his will. However, because Mulumba and Nasozi acquired their property together during their marriage, it's considered matrimonial property. This means that Mulumba can't decide on his own to give it to someone else, like Nandi, in his wi...

It is 2024 but widow inheritance is still a thing in some parts of Uganda perpetrated by some cultures. There are some people who still think inheriting a widow is part of the property left behind by the late brother. Widow inheritance is prohibited by the law. It is a form of violation against women’s dignity, welfare, and interests. Marriage is a free choice that should be made by anyone who is 18 years and above without interference from anyone including culture, traditions, customs, or any laws. Any law, culture, custom or tradition that advocates for things that demean women like widow inheritance is prohibited by the law.  The parties to a marriage should enter it willingly. It is okay if a widow consents to a marriage proposal from a family member if her acceptance is not based on the expectations or force from anyone, culture, or tradition. This being Women’s Month, we continue to advocate for women’s dignity in social, political and economic spaces. We should value and res...

Babirye and Nakato are twins. Their parents are very rich and own many plots of land, farms, animals and cars. Last year, Babirye and Nakato’s parents promised that when they get older and pass away, they will leave everything to them. Babirye and Nakato are now wondering what their parents will leave for each of them.  WHAT DOES THE LAW SAY?   In Uganda, the Succession Act is the law that governs Wills and inheritance. Babirye and Nakato's rich and wealthy parents can use a valid Will to specify how they want to distribute their property among their children. This allows them to assign specific assets or divide their property among their children. However, the law allows the parents to decide how the property is to be allocated and distributed. This means that the parents have the freedom to choose how their property will be distributed to their children. This, therefore, means that even if they are twins, they may not get property in equal amounts. The parents can choose to ...

  Prossy and Peter are Mr. Mato’s only children. He particularly trusts Prossy because she has always been responsible and smart. When it came to time to write a will, Mr. Mato gave all his property to his children and called them to sign as witnesses to it. He later called Prossy aside and told her to keep the will because he trusts her. Peter overheard this conversation and is wondering if it is safe to allow Prossy to keep the will, yet she is also mentioned in it.   WHAT DOES THE LAW SAY?   A beneficiary can keep a will if asked to. However, the validity of the will may be contested because the beneficiary also has interest in the estate of the deceased. It is therefore good practice to make 2 or more copies of one’s will and keep them with different trusted sources like a bank, a local or religious leader, a lawyer or trusted family member among others.    #Wills4Women#FATEProjectUG, #FATEProject #InspireInclusion #AccelerateProgress #InvestInWomen #Investi...

  Matia is a troublesome old man! Everyone knows that even if he is the elder of his clan, he is difficult. Recently, one of the sons in the family died and when his will was read, it showed that his daughter Amiina was to be the next heir. On hearing this Matia grabbed the will from the lawyers' hand and tore it into pieces. He said as the clan elder he would not allow a woman to be an heir. Amiina wants to know if Matia has the power to stop her from being the heir to her father’s property.     WHAT DOES THE LAW SAY? The Courts and the laws of Uganda have been very clear that women can be heirs. According to the law, an heir can be either male or female. This is because the law recognizes all people as equal, therefore they have equal rights even in succession law.     For example, if a person dies without a will, the law will give an equal percentage to all the children of the deceased whether male or female. This means that even the public should n...

  Beatrice had always told her husband that unless he became more responsible, he would not appear in her will. They got married while still young, but Beatrice had quickly made money in her business. Her husband Tom said he preferred staying home since Beatrice was making the money. Tom was often found drunk and passed out in the house when Beatrice came home. Unfortunately, Beatrice died, and, in her will, she gave all her property and custody of her children to her sister Milly. She said in the will that it was because Tom was an irresponsible drunk who would destroy her estate.    Tom ha vowed that no one will stop him from being with his children or inheriting his wife’s property.     WHAT DOES THE LAW SAY?   In the law, when a married person dies, it is usually assumed that the surviving spouse will inherit part of their property. However, a will is a document that expresses the last wishes of the deceased person. This means the law is supposed ...

  Nakamate recently lost her parents. She is the first born and only daughter of her parents. After the funeral, the clan elders called for a meeting to read the will left behind by the parents.  In the will, her father instructed that Nakamate should be the heir of his estate. The elders were so angry when this was read that some even stood up in protest, saying it is an abomination for a woman to be an heir. The one reading the will then told Nakamate that he cannot do anything since the elders have refused, she cannot be the heir.   Can they stop her from being an heir because she is a woman?   WHAT DOES THE LAW SAY?   According to the law, children are allowed to inherit property from their parents. This includes female children. Some cultures in Uganda prohibit women from inheriting property from their parents. This practice goes against the right to own property and non-discrimination given by the Constitution to all Ugandans. This is illegal.  W...

Kibirige and Maculate used to joke that they were a ‘second-hand’ couple with mileage from previous relationships. They each came with 2 children and then gave birth to two more. Last year, Kibirige (who is a truck driver for a big company) came home unexpectedly and found ‘uncle’ Brian sleeping in his bed half naked. Their marriage was never the same so they went to court for a divorce and to Maculate’s shock, Kibirige asked for custody for all the children including the ones she came to the marriage with.  Is this even legal? WHAT DOES THE LAW SAY? Under the laws of Uganda, the ideal situation is that a child should stay with their biological parents unless there is a court order that says otherwise or if they are no longer alive or reachable. However, there are cases when courts decide that the child will have to stay or grow up with a stepparent or someone else altogether. You see the law says when decisions and policies are to be made, they must be in that child’s best interes...

MPs have this Thursday morning 28-3-2024 expressed regrets over their decision to impose a tax on diapers, which they initially claimed were being used to promote homosexuality in Uganda, and are now admitting that the tax has instead made diapers expensive for the elderly & people with disabilities who rely on diapers in order to protect their dignity in society. Hon Rose Obigah (Terego DWR) asked MPs not to go back and forth with diapers tax, arguing that the tax was imposed because diapers are a luxury & there was need to reduce their excessive use because diapers had started to impact on fertility of men in Uganda. "People from Karamoja and my village (Terego district), they perform well, their fertility lasts longer but you see these men brought up in good homes, they have challenges of sperm count. It was on that ground that we wanted to reduce this excessive use of pampers. Pampers are a luxury, we would prefer to use nappies," said Obigah. #iip_...

📸: Musicians and Comedians during a plenary session in Parliament. Artists and comedians have asked Parliament to reject the Alcoholic Drinks Control Bill, 2023 warning that any attempt to impose a time limit within which alcohol is sold in entertainment places will cripple Uganda’s night economy. Hannington Bugingo, President of Uganda Comedians Association wondered why Parliament has put more focus in the fight against alcohol, yet Uganda is riddled with more cancerous problems like corruption that are eating up the nation. "Let us go back to the drawing table as a nation because we are in a catastrophe. What measures have they put in place to fight corruption? Practically none, so why are we running away from the number one cancer which is corruption and then run to probably cancer that isn’t as dangerous as corruption. Let us rethink what we are evaluating and we enforce the laws that are there to make sure that people aren’t alcoholics and also address the unemployment becau...