By Jimmy Twist
Parliament
Parliament yesterday passed the Succession Amendment Bill 2018, advocated for by the Uganda Women Parliamentary Association (UWOPA) and women activists.
The Act has repealed the definitions of legitimate and illegitimate children and replaces the age of a minority of twenty-one years with eighteen years as per the Constitution.
The Kumi woman Member of Parliament Monica Amonding has rubbished claims that the law is aimed at benefiting women saying that the bill will benefit both men and women.
She says that in the new bill, the spouse of the deceased will share 20%, Children 75%, and dependants 4% of the properties or estate.
Lugazi Municipality MP Mulindwa Ssozi also that all children of the deceased whether from a legal wife or not are entitled to the property of their parents and the deceased will be free to either pick a male or female child to inherit.
He says the old Law was oppressing women, illegitimate children, and girl children but the new law caters to all family members.
The Legal officer of LANDnet Uganda, Bernadette Bakidde says that the principal home will be for the widow or widower and says that the law has made a provision for a guardian who will manage the property of the kids and they have incorporated penalties for mismanagement of properties
