Applying for probate of a will in Uganda: checklist
Pending verification: The current court filing fee for a petition for probate. Treat the flagged points as provisional and confirm them before relying on them.
In brief
Probate is the court's confirmation of a will and the executor's authority. This checklist covers eligibility, the petition and the grant's duties.
Who it's for & when to use it
Who it's for: Executors named in a will, and their advocates.
When to use it: When the deceased left a valid will appointing an executor.
When not to use it: Where there is no will or no executor — apply for letters of administration.
The checklist
1. Locate and check the will
- Find the original will and confirm it appoints you as executor (expressly or by necessary implication).
- Check the will was validly executed — signed by the testator and attested by two witnesses.
2. Confirm eligibility
- Probate can be granted only to an executor appointed by the will, expressly or by necessary implication (Succession Act ss.178–179).
- Note probate shall not be granted to a minor or a person of unsound mind (s.180).
3. Prepare the petition
- Petition in English with the will annexed, stating the death, that the writing is the last will duly executed, and the estate's value (s.240).
- Verify the petition and, where procurable, have at least one attesting witness verify it (ss.243–244).
4. File and obtain the grant
- An executor named in the will is exempt from the Administrator General notice (Administrator General's Act s.5(1)).
- File in the court with jurisdiction by estate value, with the death certificate and the original will.
5. Post-grant duties
- On grant, undertake the inventory (six months) and account (one year); probate is valid for a maximum of two years, extendable (s.255).
- Administer and distribute the estate according to the will.
Key authorities
- Succession Act, Cap. 268 (2023 Revision) — ss.178–180, 240, 243–244, 249–252, 255.
- Administrator General's Act, Cap. 264 (2023 Revision) — s.5(1).
Checklist · Succession & estates.
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.