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BarefootLaw- Uganda BarefootLaw uses Information-Technology to provide free legal information, guidance and support.
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What do you do when you have a burning legal question that needs an urgent and accurate response? If you do require a legal opinion and/or legal advice on any aspect of Ugandan Law, then welcome to “BarefootLaw”. BarefootLaw is the first online Legal Service Provider in East Africa, and a Community Service Organization, fully registered in Uganda as a company limited by guarantee, managed and run by Lawyers trained in various aspects of law and dedicated to timely responses to any query you may have. Our mandate is to use available tools of Information Technology to disseminate the law services and education cost effectively. At BarefootLaw, we believe the primary focus of Legal Aid should be to educate citizens about their rights and equip them with Legal knowledge aimed at the prevention of the occurrence of a Legal wrong, as opposed to a reactionary focused legal aid aimed at dispute resolution, after the legal wrong has occurred, as the old adage goes, “prevention is better than cure”. To access our services, simply submit your legal question by posting it on our wall, sending a message through the inbox, or by email to [email protected], sit back and prepare to receive the best, most concise and insightful FREE legal advice in Uganda within 24 hours!! Do not hesitate to contact us with any legal query you may have as this service is 100% FREE! Yes that’s right, it’s free; we are giving you FREE LEGAL ADVICE for all queries. In a world where almost nothing is FREE we are revolutionizing all things law-related! In addition to the free services offered, BarefootLaw has introduced Premium services including Legal Document drafting, due diligence and so much more. If you do have any questions related to BarefootLaw, or our services, please do not hesitate to contact us by phone at +256 392177405, WhatsApp +256 755149984 ; email at [email protected], or send us a private message on Facebook.

DID YOU KNOW?
25/09/2026

DID YOU KNOW?

25/09/2026

We are going to see and understand what new changes were put in the Employment Act and how will it affect us

MY PARTNER WENT MISSING FOR 6 YEARS AND CAME BACK AND FOUND ME MARRIED. NOW SHE HAS REPORTED ME TO POLICE. Sergeant Kag...
25/09/2026

MY PARTNER WENT MISSING FOR 6 YEARS AND CAME BACK AND FOUND ME MARRIED. NOW SHE HAS REPORTED ME TO POLICE.

Sergeant Kaggwa called John to the Police Station. Sarah had walked in that morning and reported him for marrying another woman. John denied doing it intentionally. You see, after their argument in 2019, Sarah left their home in Ntinda and never returned. He searched hospitals, asked her relatives in Masaka, and filed a missing person report. Six years passed with no word. He assumed she was dead and married Grace last year. Sarah now wants him arrested. John wants to know if he can be charged with bigamy when his first wife disappeared for six years?

WHAT DOES THE LAW SAY?

Bigamy happens when a person who is already legally married goes through another marriage ceremony while the first spouse is still alive, and the first marriage does not allow another spouse. This mainly applies to monogamous marriages, where a person is allowed to have only one husband or one wife.

If John and Sarah were married under customary law, which can allow polygamy, the offence of bigamy may not apply to him. However, if they had a civil marriage, he could not lawfully marry someone else while that marriage was still in place.

However, if the former spouse had been missing for seven continuous years and, during that time, no one had heard that the spouse was still alive, then this would not be bigamy.

Sarah’s disappearance also does not automatically end the marriage. Under the law (the Estates of Missing Persons (Management) Act, a missing person is presumed dead after three years. But this only takes effect after a court makes a formal declaration. If John did not apply for that court order, then he does not have a lawful basis to remarry.

KEY TAKEAWAY

If your spouse has been missing for seven years, you may legally remarry. If it is less time than this, before remarrying, the safer legal step is to ask court to declare Sarah presumed dead.

Has your spouse disappeared and you are wondering whether you can move on? Inbox us for guidance on the legal steps to take.

THIS FRIDAY , WE ARE TALKING ABOUT EMPLOYMENT!!!!!!!!!We shall be talking about all the changes that have been introduce...
24/09/2026

THIS FRIDAY , WE ARE TALKING ABOUT EMPLOYMENT!!!!!!!!!

We shall be talking about all the changes that have been introduced by the recent 2026 amendment of the Employment Act. Do you have a house help? Do you have casual labourers? Are you an employee or an employer? Do not miss out on this live because it is for you!!!!!!!

See you at 12pm on Friday🥳🥳

MY CHILD NEEDS A BIRTH CERTIFICATE FOR SCHOOL EXAMS. HOW DO I GET ONE?The head teacher called Josephine from her son's s...
24/09/2026

MY CHILD NEEDS A BIRTH CERTIFICATE FOR SCHOOL EXAMS. HOW DO I GET ONE?

The head teacher called Josephine from her son's school in Masaka to tell her that they couldn’t register him for PLE without a birth certificate. Josephine’s son was born at a hospital in Masaka on 25th September 2016, but she never got a birth certificate because she escaped from the hospital without paying the balance of the hospital bill. Now the school says the deadline is in three weeks. Josephine wants to know if she can still get her son's birth certificate, and which offices must she visit?

WHAT DOES THE LAW SAY?
In Uganda, National Identification and Registration Authority (NIRA) is responsible for issuing all birth certificates. The process starts by getting a birth notification record from the medical facility where the child was born, or from the sub-county or town clerk where the birth was recorded.
The parent then presents the birth notification record, to NIRA along with a form called Notice of Birth of a Child, and a photocopy of one of the parent's National IDs and a receipt of payment.

This is because NIRA fees depend on the age of the child. If registration is within the first six months, it is free. If the children are seven months to six years, the fee is UGX 10,000; and for children aged six to 18 years, the fee is UGX 20,000; and if one is above 18 years, the fee is UGX 50,000. Since Josephine's son is now about 9 years old, the fee will be UGX 20,000.

If the child was born years ago and never got a birth notification of any sort, the process is slightly different. NIRA may require additional information and supporting documents to establish the child's birth and identity. In some cases, a statutory declaration may be required. Josephine may have to first visit the hospital administration to request the birth notification record and even clear any outstanding balance.

KEY TAKEAWAY
The fee for a birth certificate of a child depends on the age of the child. To get a birth certificate, visit a NIRA office with the birth notification record, NIRA Form 3, a parent's ID, and a receipt of payment.

Are you struggling to get a birth certificate for your child? Inbox us for guidance on the process.

DID YOU KNOW?
23/09/2026

DID YOU KNOW?

MY COLLEAGUE COMPLAINED TO HR ABOUT MY FISH SMELL MBU AM HARASSING THEM. IS THAT HARASSMENT?Ruth loves eating fish. For ...
23/09/2026

MY COLLEAGUE COMPLAINED TO HR ABOUT MY FISH SMELL MBU AM HARASSING THEM. IS THAT HARASSMENT?

Ruth loves eating fish. For atleast 3 days in the week, she carries, mpuuta, mukene or fried ‘bolo’ fish which she warms in the microwave. Most of her workmates have complained about her fish smell, and one of them has gone so far as to report Ruth to the HR for workplace harassment. When Ruth found out that Jane was the one who complained, she accused Jane of harassing her because she has a right to eat whatever she wants at work. Jane is now worried and confused. She wants to know: did her reporting amount to workplace harassment?

WHAT DOES THE LAW SAY?
Under the law, there is a difference between raising a legitimate workplace concern and harassing a colleague. The law does not allow harassment in the workplace.
Under the law, harassment is defined as written, verbal, or physical abuse or behaviour that interferes with one's work or creates an intimidating, hostile, or offensive work environment. However, the law also allows employees to raise workplace complaints and grievances through appropriate channels. In most workplaces, the first person to raise a matter with is the Human Resources department.
Simply raising a complaint to HR is not harassment because it does not automatically create a hostile work environment. However, harassment may arise from how the issue is handled for example, if Jane had shouted at Ruth, insulted her, or spread malicious rumours about her then this would be harassment.
If the fish genuinely affects other employees' health or comfort, it would not be harassment for an employee to raise such an issue to HR. In fact, employees have a duty to report concerns that affect the workplace environment.

KEY TAKEAWAY
Workplace complaints cannot be automatically labelled as harassment. It is fair for an employee to complain to HR about something they are uncomfortable with, as long as they do so respectfully and through the proper channels.

Are you worried that a complaint you made at work could be seen as harassment? Inbox us for guidance on your rights.

THE OFFICE CAUGHT FIRE I JUMPED OUT THE WINDOW TO ESCAPE AND BROKE MY LEG. THE COMPANY SAYS IT WAS MY FAULT. CAN I CLAIM...
22/09/2026

THE OFFICE CAUGHT FIRE I JUMPED OUT THE WINDOW TO ESCAPE AND BROKE MY LEG. THE COMPANY SAYS IT WAS MY FAULT. CAN I CLAIM COMPENSATION?

While working late at the office, a fire started in the server room and blocked the exit to the offices. Instead of burning to death, John jumped from the first floor and landed badly breaking his left leg. At the clinic, his supervisor visited said sorry to him but did not offer any money. Later, the company wrote to him saying he should not have jumped because the fire was "not that serious." John now wants to know: can he still claim compensation for his injury, or was the jump his fault?

WHAT DOES THE LAW SAY?

According to the law, employers have a duty to take reasonable steps to keep their workplaces safe and protect employees from harm. This includes providing and maintaining fire extinguishers, fire exits, and other emergency equipment. If an employee suffers an injury in the course of their employment, they are entitled to compensation, even if the injury resulted from their own actions in an emergency.

In John's case, yes, there was a fire exit, but it was blocked. If John jumped because the fire blocked the exit and he feared for his life, that does not automatically make the injury his fault. In an emergency, the law does not expect a person to stay calm and perfectly judge how serious the danger is. What matters is whether John acted reasonably in the situation.
If the company had failed to provide proper fire safety measures or a safe way to escape, John may have a claim for compensation.

KEY TAKEAWAY

Being injured while trying to escape a workplace fire does not automatically make it your fault. if the employer failed to provide proper fire safety measures, you may be entitled to compensation.

Are you injured at work and unsure if you can claim compensation? Inbox us for guidance on your rights.

DID YOU KNOW?
21/09/2026

DID YOU KNOW?

Address

Plot 1, Muwafu Road
Kampala

Opening Hours

Monday 08:30 - 16:30
Tuesday 08:00 - 17:00
Wednesday 08:30 - 17:00
Thursday 08:30 - 16:30
Friday 08:00 - 16:30

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+256392177405

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