Side Dishes & ‘Weekend Wives’ Win Big As High Court Rules Cohabiting Couples Must Share Property Fairly

By Our Reporter

The High Court of Uganda has handed down a landmark judgment that could reshape how the law treats couples who live together outside of marriage. In a historic ruling, the court declared that long-term cohabiting partners must share property equitably when their relationship ends — a move hailed as a victory for fairness and women’s rights.

The case arose from a dispute between Robert Kabuye and Teopista Nanyonga, who had lived together for two decades in Ndejje, Wakiso District. When their relationship broke down, Kabuye sought to evict Nanyonga, claiming sole ownership of the land they shared. Justice Jane Elizabeth Alividza, presiding over the matter, rejected his claim and ruled that both partners had contributed to the property’s value.

In her judgment, Justice Alividza awarded Kabuye one-third of the land while allowing Nanyonga to retain the rest. Crucially, the ruling recognized not only financial input but also non-financial contributions such as household management, resource allocation, and maintaining the home — roles often taken up by women but rarely acknowledged in property disputes.

Legal experts have praised the ruling as a progressive step that reflects Uganda’s evolving social realities, where many couples cohabit for years without formalizing their unions. “This decision ensures that individuals, particularly women, are not left destitute after investing years of their lives in relationships,” one family law practitioner observed.

The judgment sets a powerful precedent for future cases and offers greater protection to partners who might otherwise lose their homes or hard-earned contributions. By broadening the legal understanding of “contribution,” the High Court has effectively aligned Ugandan jurisprudence with the principle of equity in family law.

For many couples living together in Uganda, the ruling sends a clear message: partnerships, even without marriage certificates, carry responsibilities and rights that deserve legal recognition.