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To strengthen coordination and networking of LASPs, harmonisation and standardisation of legal aid service provision by the different service providers, lobbying and advocacy to facilitate a favourable legal and policy environment.

UGANDA NETWORK ON LAW, ETHICS AND HIV/AIDS (UGANET) SUCCESS STORY: SSENSALIRE GODFREY

Brief facts:

Our client Ssensalire Godfrey aged 54 years, a resident of Mbuya 2 Zone III, Nakawa Division reported that he had been abused and sometimes physically beaten by his 2 older sons and his wife, Margret Napeyon. He had made a will and bought it to UGANET for safe custody. He had on some occasions fallen so sick but the wife had neglected him and left him to die in a house. He only lived at the mercy of his support counselor and mother.

Margaret negatively influenced the children to such an extent that the elder sons disrespected their own father, fueled the physical violence in the home and were also discouraging their young son from going to school.This matter had reached the LCs and Police on numerous occasions and the couple had reached an extent of threatening to kill each other.

Early this year, Ssensalire had decided to abandon his matrimonial home however when he approached the LC1 chairperson and shared with him, he was advised to seek help from his counselor of Reach-out where he receives his medication. With advice from the LC, he decided to discuss this issue with his Counselor at Reach-out Mbuya where he receives his medication. The counselor then referred Ssensalire to UGANET office for assistance.

He approached us and informed us that he had realized that he needed a solution that will cater for his young children’s lifetime and also a peaceful environment. He was so tired of the wife’s abusive nature, disrespectful and drinking habits. He further said that he wanted to distribute his property when he is still alive a solution that will cater for his children, his wife and himself. Ssensalire informed us that he had built 7 rental houses from which he obtained money to pay for his children school fees. He wanted to divide his property and throw out his wife and his 2 elder sons. The legal officer advised him that these were still children and the fact that he is legally married to his wife, he can only dissolve the marriage with a court order of divorce. The legal officer also advised Ssensalire not to abandon his young children because he still owed them a parental obligation to provide for their basic needs. He then decided to divide his property, and he said that for him he will be moving out of his home to go and settle in the village. He wanted a legal document that would ensure that his 2 elder sons and the mother had accepted part of the property that he had given them and that the young children’s share was also protected.

He was advised to mobilize the Local Council Authority, his relatives, and family members for a family meeting. So a family meeting was organized and held on the sixth day of July, 2014 at his home in Mbuya 2 Zone 3, Nakawa Division and it was attended by the UGANET legal officers, the Local Council Authorities, and family members. Ssesalire with the help of the UGANET and the LCs was able to divide his land amongst his children and wife. The rentals for his children were for generating money for his children’s school fees. UGANET ensured that Ssensalire had proper documentation which was attested to by all the parties present. Each party was shown their respective shares. UGANET Legal Officers advised the client that if he has decided to distribute his property then the will that he had earlier on made and kept at UGANET had to be cancelled and another will  be made.

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