Namutumba, Uganda: Activists in eastern Uganda’s Namutumba District have urged parents to embrace writing wills to protect widows and orphans from widespread property grabbing, as disputes over inheritance continue to surge across the area.
The call was made during a public dialogue held at Kizuba Sub-county headquarters, where legal experts from Redeem International engaged residents and local leaders on succession laws and land rights.
Damalie Nyafono, a legal officer with Redeem International, said the absence of wills remains the leading cause of property disputes following the death of family heads.
“Heirs and clan leaders often exploit ignorance about succession laws to grab land and houses, leaving widows and orphans vulnerable,” Nyafono said.
She explained that under Uganda’s succession framework, widows and orphans are the primary beneficiaries of a deceased person’s estate, with widows entitled to 20 percent and children to 75 percent, while only one percent is allocated to heirs.
Nyafono warned that unauthorized distribution of a deceased person’s property constitutes intermeddling, which is punishable under the law.
Victims Speak Out
The dialogue exposed the harsh realities faced by widows in the district, many of whom shared testimonies of dispossession and intimidation.
Wotali Melida, a widow, narrated how her late husband’s relatives took over rental properties, leaving her unable to support her children.
“Some of my children are not in school because I cannot afford basic requirements, yet my husband left commercial houses that I cannot access,” she said.
Another victim, Salima Sylvia, revealed that her father-in-law confiscated a land title she jointly acquired with her late husband and has threatened to evict her.
Authorities Call for Action
Namutumba Police Child and Family Protection Officer Aisha Asalimo urged victims to report cases of property grabbing and domestic abuse to authorities.
“If you are facing such challenges, do not suffer in silence. Report to police and we shall handle these matters with the seriousness they deserve,” she said.
Kizuba Sub-county Chairperson Badiru Singidi acknowledged that inheritance-related conflicts are widespread in the area, prompting the need for community sensitization.
“We invited legal experts because many widows and orphans are losing property to relatives who wrongly claim ownership. We hope this engagement will reduce such cases,” Singidi noted.
Redeem International Coordinator Henry Anthony Wabwiire pledged continued collaboration with local leaders to strengthen awareness on succession laws and land rights.
He said the organisation will follow up reported cases to ensure justice for affected families while expanding sensitisation campaigns across the district.
The engagement is part of broader efforts to curb rising cases of property grabbing, which continue to threaten the welfare of widows and orphans in rural communities.
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