Filing for divorce in Uganda: checklist
In brief
Divorce in Uganda is a court process on a proven ground, with property and children dealt with alongside it. This checklist walks the petition from grounds to decree.
Who it's for & when to use it
Who it's for: Spouses seeking a divorce, and their advocates.
When to use it: When ending a legally recognised marriage by court decree.
When not to use it: For nullity, separation, or where the marriage is not legally recognised.
The checklist
1. Confirm the marriage and forum
- Confirm the marriage is legally recognised and obtain the marriage certificate.
- File in the High Court or a Chief Magistrate's court with jurisdiction.
2. Establish the ground
- Identify a ground under the Divorce Act — adultery and other grounds now apply equally to either spouse following the Constitutional Court's decision (Divorce Act s.4; UAWL v AG).
- Gather the evidence that proves the ground.
3. Prepare and file the petition
- Draft the petition setting out the marriage, the ground and the relief sought, supported by your evidence.
- Claim ancillary relief — custody and maintenance of children (Divorce Act s.28) and a just division of property.
- Verify the petition before a Commissioner for Oaths and file it with the marriage certificate and the children's birth certificates.
4. Serve and prove
- Serve the respondent and be ready to prove the petition at the hearing.
- Present your evidence on the ground, the children and the property.
5. Decree and ancillary relief
- Obtain the decree; property is shared on the evidence of each spouse's contribution, not an automatic 50/50 (Rwabinumi v Bahimbisomwe).
- Have the orders on custody, maintenance and property recorded and, where needed, enforced.
Key authorities
- Divorce Act, Cap. 144 (2023 Revision) — ss.4, 28.
- Constitution, art. 31 (equal rights in marriage and at its dissolution).
Checklist · Family.
Actively maintained.
Last reviewed 9 June 2026; next review due 9 December 2026.
This resource is a practitioner orientation and general information, not legal advice, and does not create an advocate–client relationship. It is AI-generated. Ugandan law changes and chapter and section numbers were revised in the 2023 Laws of Uganda. Verify every statute, rule, form, fee and authority against the current primary source — and the specific facts of your matter — before relying on it.