Uganda
Births and Deaths Registration Act
Chapter 309
- Published
- Commenced on 1 October 1973
- [This is the version of this document at 31 December 2000.]
- [Note: This legislation was revised and consolidated as at 31 December 2000 and 31 December 2023 by the Law Reform Commission of Uganda. All subsequent amendments have been researched and applied by Laws.Africa for ULII.]
Part I – Interpretation
1. Interpretation
In this Act, unless the context otherwise requires—Part II – Births and deaths registration districts
2. Births and deaths registration districts
3. Appointment of Registrar General
The Attorney General shall by notice in the Gazette appoint a registrar general of births and deaths for Uganda.4. Appointment of registrars
5. Registrar’s office
Every registrar shall have an office in his or her births and deaths registration district at such place as the Attorney General may from time to time direct.Part III – Registration of births
6. Births register book
Every registrar shall cause to be kept in his or her office a births register book in the prescribed form (in this Part called "the register").7. Registration of births
8. Mode of registration
Every person registering the birth of a child shall, at the time of registration, certify as to the correctness of the particulars concerning the birth by signing the register, and the registrar shall sign and date the register after the entry of the particulars.9. Registration of a child, not a child by marriage
Notwithstanding section 7, the father of a child, who is not a child by marriage, shall not be required to register particulars concerning the birth of the child, and no person shall be entered in the register as father of the child unless the father consents—10. Exposed child
Any person who finds a live newborn child lying exposed or any person who is given the charge of such a child shall report the same immediately to the nearest police station, hospital or chief, and the officer in charge of the police station or hospital or the chief, as the case may be, shall register such particulars concerning the birth of the child as he or she is able to give with the registrar of the births and deaths registration district in which the child was found.11. Extended period for registration
Part IV – Change of name or sex
12. Change of name of adult
13. Change of name of child
14. Change of sex of child
If a child, after being registered, either through an operation or otherwise, changes from a female to a male or from a male to a female and the change is certified by a medical doctor, the registrar of the births and deaths registration district in which the birth is registered shall, with the approval of the Registrar General and on the application of the parent or guardian of that child, alter the particulars of the child which appear on the births register.Part V – Registration of deaths
15. Deaths register book
Every registrar shall cause to be kept in his or her office a deaths register book in the prescribed form (in this Part called "the register").16. Registration of deaths
17. Mode of registration
Every person registering the death of any person shall, at the time of registration, certify as to the correctness of the particulars concerning the death by signing the register, and the registrar shall sign and date the register after the entry of the particulars.18. Extended period for registration
Part VI – General
19. Registrar General’s duties
20. Monthly returns
Within ten days of the last day of each month, every registrar shall forward to the Registrar General a copy of all entries made by him or her during the preceding month in the births register book and the deaths register book.21. Searches
All registers, monthly returns and indexes in the custody of the Registrar General and the registrars of births and deaths registration districts shall be open for inspection by members of the public during the prescribed hours and upon payment of the prescribed fee.22. Certified copies
23. Correction of errors
24. Power to waive or reduce fees
The Attorney General may, upon the recommendation of the Registrar General, direct that any fee payable under this Act be waived or reduced or, if already paid, be refunded in whole or in part.25. Offences and penalties
26. Regulations
The Attorney General may make regulations providing for all or any of the following—27. Transitional
The registrar of any births and deaths registration district may, upon being satisfied as to the particulars of birth or death, register the birth of any child or death of any person which occurred prior to the passing of this Act, where the registration of that birth or death was not compulsory under the former Births and Deaths Registration Act.28. No fee for late registration
A person giving particulars of the birth of any child or death of any person under section 27 shall not be required to pay any fee for late registration.29. Gombolola headquarters records
All registers and records relating to the births and deaths of any persons, which were kept by local administrations at gombolola headquarters or their equivalents prior to the commencement of this Act shall be deemed to be registers and records kept under this Act, and shall be kept in the custody of the registrars of the births and deaths registration districts in which the gombolola headquarters or their equivalents are situate.History of this document
31 December 2000 this version
Chapter 309
Revised Laws 2000
Consolidation
01 October 1973
Commenced
Cited documents 0
Documents citing this one 81
Gazette
70Judgment
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Elections
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Challenge to election based on absence of PLE fails; UACE certificate and UNEB permission validated, petition dismissed.
Electoral law – candidate qualifications – interpretation of Education Act Section 10; UNEB authority to permit examination candidates without PLE; locus standi and name‑change discrepancies; limits of election petitions versus judicial review.
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Election petition dismissed: the respondent had requisite academic qualifications and bribery allegations were unproven.
Electoral law – election petition – standard of proof higher than ordinary civil cases; qualification disputes – acceptance of statutory declaration and institutional verification to authenticate academic certificates; hearsay inadmissible to prove electoral malpractices; burden on petitioner to prove fraud or unlawful practices.
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Variations in names and UNEB disclaimers do not, without cogent evidence, defeat a candidate’s A‑level qualification.
Election law – qualification for LC V chairperson – proof of academic qualification and identity – UNEB verification letters disclaim identity – name variations and change of name formalities under Registration of Persons Act – affidavits in rejoinder and expunging defective affidavits.
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Court upholds lawful registered title, cancels fraudulently obtained certificates and dismisses plaintiffs’ time‑barred claims.
Succession and intestacy – letters of administration – validity of administrators’ grant and transfers; Registration of Titles – indefeasibility of registered title; fraud and forgery – cancellation of certificates obtained by fraud; limitation and laches – delay in challenging administration; remedies – cancellation of fraudulently obtained titles and re‑registration.
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Petitioner failed to prove that the declared winner lacked required qualifications; nomination and election upheld, petition dismissed.
* Electoral law – election petition – burden and standard of proof – petitioner must prove disqualification to satisfaction of court (high degree of probability). * Validity of nomination – identity, academic qualifications and documentary discrepancies – evidence of schoolmates and teachers vs. desk review. * Registration of Persons – deed poll not always necessary post-2015 registration regime. * Remedy – setting aside election requires clear, cogent proof; absent that, election upheld.
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The Court set aside the nullification of an MP's election where proven irregularities did not substantially affect the results.
Electoral law – parliamentary elections – non-compliance with electoral laws – standard of proof in election petitions – effect of proven irregularities on election results – inadmissible evidence and unpleaded issues.
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Election voided because winner lacked proven O‑level qualification and petitioner was disenfranchised by omitted ballot details.
* Electoral law – locus standi – valid nomination under section 16(b) PEA and Commission’s power to enlarge time (s.50 ECA).
* Qualification for parliamentary candidature – minimum formal education (A‑level or equivalent) and proof of ownership of examination certificates.
* Identity and change of name – evidentiary nexus between certificate name and candidate.
* Verification of academic qualifications – scope of NCHE duties and section 4(13) PEA.
* Ballot paper errors – omission of candidate particulars, voter disenfranchisement, substantial non‑compliance and annulment of election.
* Remedies – nullification of election, fresh poll, costs apportionment.
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A parliamentary election was set aside due to the winner’s failure to comply with statutory requirements for registered voters and legal name change.
Election law – Parliamentary elections – Qualification for nomination and election – Discrepancy in names – Registered voter requirement – Change of name – Compliance with statutory procedures – Standard of proof in election offences – Affidavits and admissibility – Whether evidence established bribery, intimidation or other electoral offences.
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