DƆNÙESÈ Data Center / Women’s Rights Laws by Country / Uganda
East Africa · Country law profile
Uganda: women’s rights and civic space laws
Uganda’s 1995 Constitution guarantees equality and equal rights in marriage. It also provides affirmative action for women and prohibits laws, cultures, customs and traditions that undermine women’s dignity. Uganda has laws on domestic violence and FGM. It also has a trafficking law and amended its succession law in 2022. Uganda keeps reservations to Articles 14 and 21 of the Maputo Protocol on reproductive health and widows’ property rights. The CIVICUS Monitor rates civic space as ‘repressed’.
At a glance
| Capital | Kampala |
|---|---|
| Legal system | Mixed: English common law, statutory law, customary law and Islamic law in personal matters |
| Official languages | English and Kiswahili |
Key indicators
18 (Constitution)Minimum legal age of marriage (2022)
About 16%Share of registered land in women’s names
83.8 / 100World Bank Women, Business and the Law 1.0 index (2024)
67.5 / 100World Bank Women, Business and the Law 2.0 legal frameworks (2024)
Constitution
| Constitution | Constitution of the Republic of Uganda, 1995 (as amended) |
|---|---|
| Equality guarantees | Article 21 guarantees equality before the law and prohibits sex discrimination; Article 31 gives equal rights in marriage and at its dissolution; Article 32 mandates affirmative action and the Equal Opportunities Commission; Article 33 guarantees women full and equal dignity and prohibits laws, cultures, customs and traditions against women’s dignity |
| Quotas or parity | Constitutional affirmative action for women; the Local Government Act reserves at least one third of local council seats for women |
National laws
Gender-based and domestic violence
Domestic Violence Act, 2010 (Act 17 of 2010)
Prohibits physical, sexual, emotional, economic and psychological abuse in domestic relationships, with criminal penalties and compensation under section 4. Courts can issue civil protection orders.
Gaps: Its broad definition of sexual abuse could cover marital rape, though it gives civil remedies more than explicit criminal liability.
Rape and sexual offences
Penal Code Act, sections 123 and 124 (rape) and section 129 (defilement)
Defines rape as unlawful carnal knowledge of a woman or girl without consent, punishable by death, and criminalises sexual acts with persons under 18 as defilement, including aggravated defilement.
Gaps: Marital rape is not explicitly criminalised and an implied marital exception persists.
Source: mcgill.ca
Rape and sexual offences
Sexual Offences Bill (passed by Parliament in May 2021; not assented)
Was intended to consolidate sexual offences law; the President declined assent in August 2021 and the delegation told CEDAW in 2022 it would be re-tabled.
Gaps: The 2019 version removed all reference to marital rape after strong opposition.
Source: mcgill.ca, ungeneva.org
Sexual harassment
Employment Act, 2006 (sexual harassment provisions)
Prohibits sexual harassment in employment.
Gaps: CEDAW experts noted in 2022 that the workplace protections apply only to employers with 25 or more staff.
Source: ungeneva.org
Female genital mutilation
Prohibition of Female Genital Mutilation Act, 2010
Outlaws FGM; the Constitutional Court has held FGM unconstitutional.
Child marriage and age of marriage
Constitution of Uganda, 1995 (minimum age of marriage 18)
Sets 18 as the age of marriage.
Gaps: CEDAW experts noted in 2022 that customary law still permits child marriage practices.
Source: ungeneva.org
Child marriage and age of marriage
Prevention of Trafficking in Persons Act, 2009
Covers child marriage among the forms of exploitation it targets.
Source: mondaq.com
Family and personal status
Divorce Act (Cap. 250); Marriage Act (Cap. 251); Customary Marriage (Registration) Act (Cap. 248)
Existing statutes governing civil and customary marriage and divorce.
Gaps: FIDH documented in 2012 that the Divorce Act set stricter evidentiary requirements for women seeking divorce.
Source: fidh.org
Family and personal status
Children (Amendment) Act, 2016
Updates the child protection framework.
Gaps: The ACHPR noted that it does not give widows automatic custody of their children when their husbands die.
Source: achpr.au.int, mglsd.go.ug
Inheritance and succession
Succession (Amendment) Act, 2022
Amends the Succession Act; the government told CEDAW that it provides equal inheritance for women and men.
Gaps: Uganda maintains its reservation on Article 21 of the Maputo Protocol on widows’ inheritance rights.
Source: achpr.au.int, ungeneva.org
Land and property
Land Act (amended 2004) and Mortgage Act
Requires written spousal consent for transactions on family land and for mortgaging the matrimonial home. The Land Act also protects women’s security of occupancy and prohibits customs that deny women land rights.
Gaps: Only about 16% of registered land is in women’s names.
Source: mondaq.com, fidh.org
Abortion and sexual and reproductive health
Penal Code Act (abortion provisions)
Abortion is restricted under the Penal Code.
Gaps: Uganda keeps a reservation on Article 14 of the Maputo Protocol, which covers safe abortion.
Source: mondaq.com, achpr.au.int
Girls’ education
Government policy allowing pregnant learners to return to school
The delegation told CEDAW in 2022 that policy now allows pregnant students to go back to school and continue their studies.
Gaps: Policy instrument only; no statutory guarantee identified.
Source: ungeneva.org
Political participation and quotas
Constitution (affirmative action) and Local Government Act
Mandates affirmative action for women and reserves at least one third of local council seats for women.
Gaps: CEDAW experts raised the high cost of political campaigns as a barrier for women candidates.
Source: mondaq.com, ungeneva.org
Labour and maternity
Employment Act, 2006 and Employment (Domestic Workers) Regulations
Govern employment relationships, including maternity protection and domestic work.
Gaps: The ACHPR urged Uganda to fast-track amendments to the Act and the domestic workers regulations; CEDAW experts questioned coverage of women in the informal sector.
Source: achpr.au.int, ungeneva.org
Trafficking
Prevention of Trafficking in Persons Act, 2009
Criminalises trafficking, including domestic servitude and child labour. Child marriage is also covered. The delegation said the law is used to prosecute offenders.
Access to justice and legal aid
Equal Opportunities Commission Act, 2007 (Act No. 2 of 2007)
Operationalises the constitutional ban on discrimination; the Commission has resolved 2,372 discrimination cases.
Gaps: The ACHPR asked for stronger action against discrimination rooted in customary law.
Source: achpr.au.int
Access to justice and legal aid
Human Rights (Enforcement) Act, 2019
Provides procedures for enforcing constitutional human rights in court.
Source: achpr.au.int
Data protection
Data Protection and Privacy Act, 2019
Sets standards for the collection and processing of personal data.
Source: achpr.au.int
Women and girls with disabilities
Persons with Disabilities Act, 2020
Re-establishes the National Council for Persons with Disabilities and provides employment quotas.
Gaps: CEDAW experts said parts of the disability framework were not implemented for women with disabilities; disaggregated data is lacking.
Source: achpr.au.int, ungeneva.org
Human rights defenders
Public Order Management Act, 2013
Regulates public gatherings.
Gaps: Section 8 was declared unconstitutional; the ACHPR urged Uganda to revise its laws in line with that decision.
Source: achpr.au.int
Human rights defenders
Non-Governmental Organisations Act
Regulates registration and operation of NGOs.
Gaps: CEDAW experts reported in 2022 that urban refugee women’s organisations struggled under the NGO law; the ACHPR recommended adopting a witness protection law.
Source: ungeneva.org, achpr.au.int
Civic space
| CIVICUS Monitor rating | Repressed (score 30, December 2024) |
|---|---|
| Human rights defenders law | No specific HRD or witness protection law; the ACHPR recommended one |
| Public order and counter-terrorism | Public Order Management Act, 2013 (section 8 declared unconstitutional) |
| Notes | CIVICUS documented detention of environmental defenders and protesters in 2024. The ACHPR noted restrictions on freedoms in the electoral context and urged stronger independent oversight of elections. |
Recent developments
- August 2021. The President declined to assent to the Sexual Offences Bill passed by Parliament in May 2021.
- February 2022. The CEDAW Committee reviewed Uganda; the delegation reported re-entry of pregnant girls to school and planned re-tabling of the Marriage and Sexual Offences bills.
- 2022. The Succession (Amendment) Act, 2022 was adopted.
- 2024. The ACHPR published concluding observations on Uganda’s combined 6th to 8th periodic report, urging adoption of the Marriage and Legal Aid bills and withdrawal of Maputo Protocol reservations.
- December 2024. CIVICUS rated Uganda’s civic space as repressed.
Reforms recommended
Reforms recommended by the African Commission, UN treaty bodies or national organisations, as reported in the sources below.
- Lift the reservations on Articles 14 and 21 of the Maputo Protocol.
- Enact the Marriage Bill with equal property division and grounds for divorce.
- Adopt a sexual offences law that explicitly criminalises marital rape.
- Fast-track the Legal Aid Bill and adopt a witness and HRD protection law.
- Amend the Employment Act 2006 and domestic workers regulations to cover all workplaces and informal workers.
Being verified. RFLD is checking the laws on the following topics against official texts and will add them to this page: harmful practices, social protection, nationality, online violence and cybercrime, older persons, same-sex relations. Corrections and documents are welcome at programs@rflgd.org.
African Union treaties
Status of 29 African Union treaties as recorded in the official AU status lists published by the African Union Commission. The date of each list is shown: a ratification deposited after that date may not appear yet. 10 of the 13 human rights and governance treaties below are ratified.
Other AU treaties (16)
Sources (9)
- ungeneva.org · cedaw en depit des progres qua realises le pays les femme…
- mondaq.com · advancing womens rights a look at ugandan law
- wbl.worldbank.org · WBL2024 Economy Scores
- fidh.org · uganda582afinal
- mcgill.ca · rebecca clayton a critical legal analysis of marital rape…
- resourcehub.bakermckenzie.com · 1legal provisions
- mglsd.go.ug · laws
- achpr.au.int · concluding observations 6th 8th periodic reportugandaeng
- monitor.civicus.org · africa
Other countries in East Africa
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Information verified as of October 2026. This page is for information and advocacy and is not legal advice. Laws change: check the official text before relying on it. Part of the DƆNÙESÈ Data Center of the Women Leaders Network for Development (RFLD). See also the Maputo Protocol Hub and the Maputo Barometer.