Namutumba authorities rebuke men who grab money from wives

NAMUTUMBA - The authorities in Namutumba district have rebuked relatives who torture widows and husbands who grab government-given poverty alleviation money from their wives.

Resident District Commissioner Aggrey Fred Bangu says violators of women will be arrested and prosecuted. Other leaders of the district also echoed similar sentiments during the belated district Womens Day celebrations at the district headquarters after widows and women leaders made the alarm over the matter.

Bangu, who represented urban planning state minister Persis Namuganza on May 9, 2026, said widows and orphans have a right to own the deceased's estate.

He also strongly warned local leaders and Police officers who aid the perpetrators to grab and evict the victims that they will be dealt with accordingly.

Bangu also said it is inappropriate for husbands to grab their wife's money received from government-led programmes, including the Parish Development Model, Emyooga and UWEP, as they also receive the same form various programmes.

The reaction followed the district women's league chairperson, Jenifer Bayita, who noted that some of their fellow women are failing to start up income-generating projects as their husbands grab the money.

Bayita said such actions are partially failing recovery efforts as they cause domestic violence, separation and divorce.

At the event, several widows decried torture and evictions from their homes and land by relatives of their late husbands, citing having no right of ownership.

Bangu, who represented urban planning state minister Persis Namuganza on May 9, 2026, said widows and orphans have a right to own the deceased's estate. (Credit: Ivan wakibi)

Injustice

Kamuyat Babita, one of the widows, also a councillor for older persons in Nangode town council, said she and her two co-wives faced such a challenge when their husband, Suleiman Kalaka, died in 2022.

She said that the deceased had five wives and left them in their respective homes, but after the burial, her brother-in-law and other children stormed their homes and demanded that they leave so that they could share the homes.

She added that they caused violence before she reported to authorities, who intervened and saved them.

Ednansi Salamuka 78, a widow to Difaasi Majoli, a resident of Idhinda in Nangonde sub-county, also narrated how her nephew, Yusuf, tried to grab her 30 acres of land after death of her husband.

She said that she endured threats from the accused for over 20 years, coupled with cutting her crops and harvesting her crops, before authorities and activists intervened and won the land battle in courts of law.

Meanwhile, Henry Anthony Wabwiire, the community liaison officer with Redeem International, which advocates for the rights of widows and orphans, promised to collaborate with authorities to help the victims in the area.

He attributed such cases to greed and ignorance about succession law by deceased relatives, clan leaders and some local leaders.

District LC5 chairperson David Mukisa asked couples to avoid domestic violence and hailed civil organisations they collaborate with to help victims.

At the event, Bangu launched the issuance of land titles to residents processed by government through the lands ministry to confirm their ownership.