An Analysis of Matrimonial Property Dilemma: A Case Study of Uganda.

TABLE OF CONTENTS

DECLARATION ............................................................................................................................. i

APPROVAL ................................................................................................................................... ii

DEDICATION ............................................................................................................................... iii

ACKNOWLEDGEMENT ............................................................................................................. iv

LIST OF STATUTES .......................................•.............................................................................. v

LIST OF CASES ............................................................................................................. : ............. vi

TABLE OF CONTENTS ............................................................................................................ viii

CHAPTER ONE ............................................................................................................................ 1

GENERAL INTRODUCTION ..................................................................................................... 1

1.0 Background to the Study ........................................................................................................... 1

1.1 Definitions ................................................................................................................................. 2

I.I.I Prope1iy ................................................................................................................................... 2

1.1.2 Matrimonial prope1iy .............................................................................................................. 3

1.1.3 Spouses .................................................................................................................................. .4

1.1.4 House hold prope1iy ............................................................................................................... 5

1.1.5 Inheritance .............................................................................................................................. 7

I. 2 Statement of the Problem .......................................................................................................... 8

1.3 Objectives of the study .............................................................................................................. 8

1.4 Research Questions .................................................................................................................... 9

Vlll

1.5 Significance of the study ........................................................................................................... 9

1.6 Methodology .............................................................................................................................. 9

1. 7 Literature Review .................................................................................................................... 10

l .8Chapterisation ............................................................................................................................. 9

CHAPTER TWO ........................................................................................... 12

2.0 ANALYSIS OF MEASURES TO DEAL WITH MATRIMONIAL PROPERTY ......... 16

2.1 Introduction ............................................................................................................................ 16

2.2 Common law remedies ............................................................................................................ 16

2.2.1 Conunon law Rule ................................................................................................................ 16

2.3 Statutory measures ................................................................................................................... 20

2.3.1 Action for damages in tort .................................................................................................... 21

2.3.2 Statutory remedy of proceedings for an injunction .............................................................. 21

2.3.3 Statutory remedy for issues between one of the spouses and a stranger. ............................. 22

2.3.4 Statutory remedy for prope1iy acquired by the spouses ....................................................... 23

2.3.5 Statutory remedy for transactions between husband and wife ............................................. 26

2.4 Conclusion ............................................................................................................................... 27

CHAPTER THREE ..................................................................................................................... 28

3.0 NON - STATUTORY MEASURES DEALING WITH MATRIMONIAL PROPERTY

........................................................................................................................................................ 28

3 .1 Introduction ............................................................................................................................... 28

IX

3.2 Bank Accounts ......................................................................................................................... 30

3.3 Property Agreements ............................................................................................................... 32

3.2 Separate prope1iy remains separately ...................................................................................... 34

3 .2.2 Agreements to divide relationship prope1iy ........................................................................ .3 6

3.2.3 Man-iage of sh01i duration .................................................................................................... 37

3.2.4 Necessaries oflife ................................................................................................................ .38

3 .2.5 Issues concerning a will.. ...................................................................................................... 3 9

3.4 Cone! usion ............................................................................................................................. .40

CHAPTER FOUR ....................................................................................................................... 41

4.0 EFFECT OF THE MEASURES PUT IN PLACE TO DEAL WITH MATRIMONIAL

············································································································································PROPERTY .................................................................................................................................. .41

4.1 Introduction .............................................................................................................................. 41

4.2 The effect of Matrimonial prope1iy ........................................................................................ .41

4.2.1 Problems of common law protection ................................................................................... .43

4.3 The effect of action for damages in tort.. ................................................................................. 50

4.3.1 Problems of action for damages in toii ................................................................................ 51

4.4 Effect of Remedy of proceedings for an injunction ................................................................. 51

4.4.2 Negative Effects .................................................................................................................... 52

4.5 Effect of Statutory remedy for issues between one of the spouses and a stranger .................. 53

4 .6 Effect of statutory remedy for prope1iy acquired by the spouses ........................................... 54

X

4.8 Cone I usion .............................................................................................................................. 55

CHAPTER FIVE ......................................................................................................................... 56

GENERAL CONCLUSION AND RECOMMENDATIONS .................................................. 56

5.0 Introduction .............................................................................................................................. 56

5.1 The Constitutional Frame work ............................................................................................... 56

5.2 Balance of power relations ...................................................................................................... 57

5.3 Prima facie case in Derivative Action ..................................................................................... 58

5.4 Legal awareness campaigns ..................................................................................................... 58

5.5 Legal Refonns ......................................................................................................................... 60

5.6 Reducing on the unfair mies on matrimonial propeiiy ............................................................ 61

5. 7 Conclusion ............................................................................................................................... 62

BIBLIOGRAPHY .......................................................................................................................... 66