Speaker of Parliament Anita Among has urged the Minister of Gender, Labour, and Social Development, Hon. Peace Mutuuzo, to raise awareness about the Succession (Amendment) Act 2022, emphasizing its potential to address challenges women face during property distribution.
Among noted that, although the Act was enacted two years ago and has shown positive outcomes, its provisions remain unfamiliar to many.
“The Succession [Amendment Act 2022] acknowledges that not every woman is married; some may have children with men who are married to others. The Act ensures that such men’s children are entitled to inherit their property, alleviating hardships for these women,” Among explained.
She made these remarks while inaugurating the 2nd Women’s Parliament—a gathering of female leaders from across the nation—held at Parliament on Monday, 3 March 2025, to deliberate on issues affecting women.
The session, themed “Consolidating Women’s Social and Economic Transformation in Uganda,” commemorated International Women’s Day.
The Succession (Amendment) Act mandates the equitable distribution of a deceased parent’s estate among all children, irrespective of their age or dependency status at the time of death.
The Speaker observed that, despite potential implementation challenges, the Act is well-intentioned and its provisions should be widely disseminated.
“Hon. Mutuuzo, ensure that the public is informed about the Act’s contents, as many are unaware; we need to promote awareness. While there may be implementation challenges, we can collaborate to remove systemic barriers to accessing and utilizing these interventions,” Among stated.
She praised government initiatives aimed at empowering women in Uganda, including the Uganda Women Entrepreneurship Program, the Parish Development Model, and the GROW project, which offer financial support and skill development for women.
Clerk to Parliament, Hon. Adolf Mwesige, commended Parliament’s leadership for fostering an inclusive environment for women and girls.
“I appreciate the Speaker for establishing a division within Parliament dedicated to equity and gender mainstreaming, which will extend to engaging with women at local council levels,” Mwesige remarked.
He added, “I also commend our Speaker for initiating the girl child project, which provides scholarships and skills to girls. This demonstrates her commitment to supporting women in politics and young girls at an early stage.”
Resolutions from the 2nd Women’s Parliament will be presented to President Yoweri Museveni, relevant ministries, and during a House session for potential action.
Following its inaugural session in 2015, the 2nd Women’s Parliament was revitalized by the Uganda Women Parliamentary Association (UWOPA) with support from the Westminster Foundation for Democracy.
