Female MPs want 1% property share for heirs be abolished

By Francis Lubega

3^rd March 2021

The Uganda Women’s Parliamentary Association-UWOPA in conjunction with the Westminster Foundation for Democracy has proposed an abolition of One percent property share that has always been given to heirs in the 1906 Succession Act.

Apparently, the Act states that a heir is entitled to an extra 1% of the properties left by the deceased in addition to the joint shared percentage of other beneficiaries which the proposed bill seeks to cure saying it’s a double reward and unfair.

Addressing Journalists and women MPs in an awareness workshop, the legal officer of LANDnet Uganda, Bernadette Bakidde says the current bill allows customary heirs but exclusive of 1% property share.

The bill further proposes a 50% share of the deceased properties by the spouse.

In this clause both men and women will be entitled to a 50% share of properties whether they belong to the man or woman.

The 1906 Succession Act only allows women to share their husband’s properties isolating men from benefiting if their wives pass on.

Additionally under the new proposed bill once passed, the spouse of the deceased will share 50%, Children 45% and dependants 5% of the properties or estate.