Lira | Dozens gathered at All Saints University, Canon Lawrence Campus, Boroboro, in Lira City on Tuesday, June 23, 2026, to commemorate the 2026 provincial Widow’s Day.
The day falls under the United Nations’ June 23, 2010, recognition of widows across the globe.
The theme: “Justice, Dignity and Economic Power for Widows” was picked from the Book of Isaiah 1:17 and marked 16 years since the day was officially declared. It concluded with a strong call for the protection of widows’ rights and an end to property grabbing.
In a message to widows, Rev. Sister Grace Mary Akiror, a member of the Board of Uganda AIDS Commission, revealed that statistics indicate Uganda has the highest number of widows in the region.
She attributed this to men’s reluctance to seek medical attention for their health concerns and their failure to adhere to Antiretroviral (ARV) treatment as prescribed. In contrast, she noted that women regularly visit health facilities whenever they feel unwell.
Rev. Sister Grace added that the Uganda AIDS Commission is working tirelessly to ensure that by the end of 2030, HIV/AIDS will no longer be a public health threat to the lives of Ugandans.
She emphasised that this would significantly reduce AIDS-related deaths and that efforts would be made to limit mother-to-child transmission of HIV.
Sister further urged communities to show compassion toward people living with HIV/AIDS, stating that stigma often discourages patients from seeking treatment and adhering to their medication.
Poor women, she said, are among the most vulnerable, which is why the Uganda AIDS Commission has embarked on public sensitisation, particularly targeting women, on prevention and intervention strategies.
“Women are at a higher risk of HIV infection, but they are also more likely to adhere to treatment. We must continue sensitising communities, fighting stigma and supporting those living with HIV,” Akiror said.
She called on families, religious leaders, health workers and the media to work together in combating HIV/AIDS and protecting vulnerable women and girls.
According to Rev. Sister, the Government of Uganda continues to invest heavily in HIV/AIDS prevention and treatment programmes, spending approximately shs1.5 trillion annually to support interventions aimed at reducing infections, preventing mother-to-child transmission and ensuring access to free medication.
The Kabale District Woman Member of Parliament, Enid Origumidiriza Atuheire, a widow, shared her personal experience with fellow widows.
She urged members of society to protect widows’ rights and end property grabbing, encouraging widows to be strong women in the public sphere.
Atuheire highlighted the numerous challenges widows face in Uganda, including property grabbing, land disputes and loss of matrimonial homes.
She noted that in many cases, when a husband dies, the in-laws are the ones causing these problems because they want to take over everything that belongs to the widow.
The woman MP added that these issues persist because most widows have limited access to education, especially for their children, and called upon the Government of Uganda to intervene further.
The MP called upon different sectors to wake up and condemn acts that threaten the lives of widows. “Let us come and stand together with the widows in every corner against anything that puts the life of a widow at risk.
“Let us help widows to access proper justice when they have cases. This is our collective responsibility,” she said. She further explained her personal experience as a widow and how she struggled to raise her five children immediately after her husband passed on.
She urged widows to seek legal protection through letters of administration following the death of a spouse, noting that legal reforms have strengthened their rights.
According to her, the Succession (Amendment) Act, 2022, was a landmark achievement that removed discriminatory provisions against widows and granted them greater protection over matrimonial property and inheritance rights.
“The law now gives widows the first right to apply for letters of administration if their husbands die without a will. They no longer need permission from the clan,” she explained.
Francis Ocira, the Program Manager of Redeem International at Lira Branch, an NGO that partners with government structures to protect the rights of widows and orphans and to secure their homes and land so they can live safely, said that in the first quarter alone, the organisation registers approximately 8 to 10 cases from different widows seeking justice on land matters and other issues.
Lira City East Division MP Denis Ayela Omodi, who represented Lira City Woman MP Dr Jane Ruth Aceng Ocero, who also serves as Government Chief Whip, appreciated the widows and acknowledged that if society stands together with them, no one will be left despairing.
He encouraged them to take advantage of various government programmes such as PDM and SACCOs to help free themselves from poverty.
The main celebrant, Rt. Rev. Prof. Alfred Olwa, Bishop of the Diocese of Lango, stated that the theme was lifted from the Old Testament reading in the Book of Isaiah 1:17.
He noted that the Church of Uganda, especially the Diocese of Lango, has structures at the parish level tasked with creating awareness on these issues.
Bishop Olwa continued that the church has been granted the honour by the Church of Uganda to host the national Widows’ Day celebration in the Diocese of Lango. He added that annually, they encourage widows to be hardworking and create good awareness among themselves.
The Diocese of Lango, the Bishop said, has established some SACCO groups, although he acknowledged that there are still some greedy individuals among them—a very serious issue.
He also cautioned widows and other community members against unnecessary borrowing, warning that high-interest loans often lead to loss of property and financial distress.
“There are people who exploit vulnerable individuals by offering loans with very high interest rates. In the end, borrowers fail to repay and lose their property. Debt should only be taken when necessary,” he said.
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