Yesterday 23-June was INTERNATIONAL WIDOWS DAY.
Who is a widow?
Maimuna married Binojjo who was a village chief at the time. Because of their age difference, Binojjo only lived for another 4 years and passed away.
Immediately after his death, Kaddogo (Binojjo's younger and broke brother) came to Maimuna demanding for ‘his brother’s’ house. He even told her that he was willing to let her stay if he could inherit her as the replacement for the heir to Binojjo.
Maimuna refused either of these demands but wants to know what her rights are.
WHAT DOES THE LAW SAY?
Firstly, a widow is a woman who has lost her spouse (lawfully married husband) by death. By law (succession act), a widow is entitled to the home she and her late husband shared during marriage (this is called a matrimonial home). This means the house, compound and anything on that particular land.
So it is illegal to only allow her to take the house and the rest of the land is taken away. In addition, the laws of Uganda (The Constitution) say that the man and woman are equal during marriage, and after marriage, so any culture or person who proposes to make a widow property that can be inherited is unlawful. This is discrimination against the woman and the law does not condone it.
The new proposed Succession law (Succession Amendment Bill) will even entitle a widow to 50% of the property of her late husband. This is recognition that the two were equal in marriage as well as after the death of one spouse.
#BarefootLaw
#osutayusuf
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