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Disclaimer / Limitations
This country’s legal measures were reviewed by our legal staff in consultation with in-country lawyers and/or CRVS legal experts. All efforts were made to ensure the accuracy of the legal analysis, however, if you consider there to be any discrepancies or if there have been changes in the law of the country since our staff last updated the legal analysis, we welcome any additional information or insights. Please contact us via this form.
Death Registration
Uganda
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Uganda
Death Registration
Universal Coverage and Definition
Universal Coverage and Definition
Universal Coverage and Definition
Is death registration available and compulsory for all events occurring in the country's jurisdiction?
Yes
Recommended Practice based on International Guidelines
To increase death registration rates, the law should provide that registration is available and compulsory to all deaths occurring in every geographical area and for every population group in the country, without discrimination. Examples of possible discriminations are: sex; race ethnicity, religion or population group; marital status; nationality, citizenship, residency or regugee/asylum status; or any other characteristic such as prisoners or persons with disabilities
The Constitution makes the registration of all deaths occurring in Uganda compulsory. Section 28 of the Registration of Persons Act also states that the registration of every death that occurs in Uganda is compulsory, and this is echoed in several of the regulations issued in terms of the Act.
However, section 1(2) of the Registration of Persons Act states that it excludes certain categories of persons from its coverage: (a) persons who are not resident in Uganda and persons visiting Uganda for less than 90 days; and (b) refugees.
In practice, all deaths that take place in Uganda are included in the register of deaths.
Is registration of death available to citizens living abroad?
Yes
Recommended Practice based on International Guidelines
The death of a national who is abroad should be reported and registered in the country where the death occurred either by the next of kin or other person with knowledge of death. The death should also be reported to the embassy or consulate of the home country of the deceased.
The law makes provision for the registration of deaths of Ugandan citizens that take place outside Uganda. The notification can be done at the official premises of a Uganda Mission or at other locations outside Uganda designated as registration centers by the Board of the National Identification and Registration Authority after consultation with the Minister responsible for foreign affairs.
Does the law provide a clear definition of death? If yes, does the definition accord with international guidelines?
No death is not defined by law
Recommended Practice based on International Guidelines
The provision of clear definitions in the law is an important tool to ensure the continuous and permanent recording of vital events in all areas. The UN's definition of death is: "The permanent disappearance of all evidence of life at any time after live birth has taken place (post-natal cessation of vital functions without capability of resuscitation)."
No definition of “death” appears in the Registration of Persons Act or its subsidiary enactments, and none has been located in any other Ugandan legal instruments available to the reviewer.
