New bill to recognise couples that have cohabitated for more than 6 months as marrieds

Opendi who revealed this during a press conference at Parliament on Monday, May 15 2023 said the new Bill would provide for comprehensive legislation on matters relating to marriage under one law.

She told journalists that the current marriage act which was enacted 118 years ago needed amendment to cater for modern day developments in the institute of marriage.

“Close to 65% of Ugandans (the majority) are cohabiting. It is unfair to live with somebody's daughter or son for 10 years while not legally registered as a married couple,” she said.

Opendi said she had finalised consultations on the bill from a number of stakeholders and expressed readiness to present it in Parliament anytime soon.

She however said that they are yet to finalise a clause that will make couples who cohabit after a certain period of time have their marriage legally recognised.

Opendi revealed that the bill will follow the case of Malawi where couples after six months of cohabitation are recognised by the law as marrieds.

If passed by Parliament and assented to by the President, all couples that have cohabited for more than six months will be recognised as marrieds.

The current law in Uganda does not recognise couples that cohabit as marrieds despite living together for years.

The bill, women activists say, will help women who find themselves entrapped in relationships with men they cohabit with and end up not being recognised upon their death.