The Archbishop of the Church of Uganda, the Most Rev. Dr. Stephen Samuel Kaziimba Mugalu, has called for urgent action to protect widows from property grabbing, inheritance disputes, and discrimination, warning that thousands of women continue to suffer injustice after the death of their spouses.
Speaking ahead of International Widows’ Day, observed annually on June 23, Archbishop Kaziimba said many widows are left vulnerable despite years of contributing to the development of their families and household wealth.
“The widows and orphans are, in many cases, neglected, forgotten, and denied access to property rightfully belonging to them after the death of their husbands or fathers,” he said. “This injustice continues to undermine the dignity of women who laboured alongside their spouses to build families, only to be dispossessed after their passing.”
The Archbishop appealed to families, cultural institutions, religious leaders, government agencies, and the judiciary to strengthen efforts aimed at protecting widows and ensuring they receive justice.
“We are reaffirming our commitment to promoting justice, restoring dignity, and advancing the economic empowerment of widows,” he said, calling for timely and fair resolution of inheritance and property disputes.
The Archbishop’s remarks highlight a longstanding challenge in Uganda, where many widows continue to face eviction from matrimonial homes, loss of land, and denial of inheritance despite legal protections.
Although Uganda’s Constitution guarantees equality and several court decisions have struck down discriminatory provisions in succession laws, implementation remains uneven. In many communities, customary practices still favour male relatives in the distribution of family property after a man’s death.
As a result, widows often find themselves engaged in lengthy legal battles or forced to surrender property to in-laws. Rights advocates say lack of legal awareness, financial constraints, social pressure, and fear of family conflict prevent many women from pursuing justice.
The situation has contributed to increased poverty and vulnerability among widows and their children, particularly in rural communities where land remains the primary source of livelihood.
Archbishop Kaziimba said the Church of Uganda remains committed to supporting widows through advocacy, legal awareness, spiritual care, and economic empowerment programmes.
Through structures such as the Mothers’ Union and initiatives including the Ruth Ministry, the Church has sought to address the social and economic challenges faced by widows across the country.
He urged cultural leaders to challenge harmful practices, government agencies to enforce existing laws, and judicial officers to ensure swift handling of inheritance-related cases.
As Uganda joins the rest of the world in marking International Widows’ Day, Archbishop Kaziimba said protecting widows is both a moral obligation and a matter of social justice.
“Every widow deserves dignity, protection, and equal access to the property and resources she helped build,” he said. “We must work together to end the injustices that continue to rob many women of their rights and livelihoods.”
