A cohabiting wife Nassozi Annette, together with Uganda Association of Women Lawyers has instituted a suit in the high Court Uganda, challenging the failure in place a law that articulates and protects property rights in cohabitating relationships.
They assert that the failure of government to put in place a law on cohabitation is in fact a failure to fulfill their obligation to protect and promote the right to family for all persons, Without discrimination on the basis of their marital Status.
Kemigisha Elizabeth, the fida lawyer says the most recent Demographic Health Survey report published by the Uganda Bureau Of Statistics reveals a Steady increase in the percentage Of people in cohabitation relationships. Kemigisha says these are between 14% to 30% for Women, and 6% to 19% for men in the past 10 years. According to Kemigisha, this is indicative of an even higher percentage of cohabitation relationships since the survey was last conducted.
They say statistics show that there is a huge percentage of people in Uganda that are cohabiting and starting families together without getting into any of the legally married. They now want the government puts in place laws that clearly stipulate and protect property rights of people in families that are founded through cohabitation relationships.
By Rashidah Nakaayi
