Police in Oyam condems traditional practice of forced widow inheritance

24 September 2026, 2:06 pm

By Finellah Akullu Opio

Police and legal advocates in Oyam District have called on traditional clan leaders to enforce national laws banning forced wife inheritance (lako wat) and the illegal dispossession of widows and orphans.

Speaking during a Community dialogue organised by Redeem International at Arwot-nyap village, Adigo Parish, Loro Subcounty, Sam Okullo, from Oyam CPS Child and Family Protection Unit, warned that customary practices cannot override the Constitution, labeling the practice as an illegal violation of fundamental human rights.

He noted that forcing or pressuring a widow into a relationship with her deceased husband’s relatives under the guise of cultural customs known as “lako” is a crime frequently used as a pretext to unlawfully seize the deceased’s property.

Loro Subcounty Community Development Officer, Christine Nyana revealed that domestic violence accounts for over 55 percent of reported cases in the subcounty, primarily driven by disputes between widows, co-wives, and stepchildren over land inheritance.

Caroline Grace Aneno, a legal officer with Redeem International, clarified that under Ugandan law, property in customary marriages must be shared equitably among surviving spouses and all recognised children.

She noted that while civil and religious marriages prohibit bigamy, customary law permits polygamy, meaning all recognised wives retain property rights upon a husband’s death.

Assistant Resident District Commissioner for Oyam, Tenywa Ayub advised families to establish clear boundary marks, such as live-fencing to prevent boundary encroachments that target vulnerable widows.

He warned that local authorities will arrest relatives who attempt to evict widows or maliciously damage property left to orphans.

The dialogue was organised by Redeem Intentional to reinstate Teddy Akullu, a 38-year-old widow and a mother of three whose husband, Justine Ongiro, passed away in October 2024. Following his death, Akullu’s stepson attempted to forcefully evict her from her matrimonial land.

After reporting the matter to Adako-ber-iot Police Outpost, the case was taken up by Redeem International, which successfully secured a court ruling restoring the property to Akullu.

According to a report Redeem International, the organisation has handled over 116 cases of land grabbing targeting widows in Oyam District over the past three years.