Law Commons^™

Proving Customary Law In Uganda: Roadmaps And Roadblocks, David B. Dennison

David Brian Dennison

Customary law is second-class law in Uganda. While customary law applies in many “grass root” settings, customary law struggles for legitimacy within formal legal environments. Matters of customary proof exemplify this disconnect. Ugandan methods of customary proof are the product of British colonial precedent. Despite longstanding calls for revised approaches, little has changed since Uganda’s independence in 1962. The colonially crafted framework of customary proof devalues custom and culture. In terms of proof, Ugandan courts treat customary law less favorably than foreign law. Judges have no duty to know customary law. Instead customary law is a fact to be proved. …