Getting a Statutory Declaration or an Affidavit in Uganda is a straightforward legal process, but it requires specific steps to ensure the document is admissible in court or accepted by government agencies like NIRA or URSB.
1. Identify Which Document You Need
- Affidavit: Used primarily as evidence in court proceedings or for legal applications (e.g., proof of ownership, lost documents, or supporting a lawsuit). It is governed by the Oaths Act.
- Statutory Declaration: Used for administrative or official purposes outside of court (e.g., changing your name, declaring marital status, business registrations, lost ID or passport, clarifying errors in documents about dates of birth, arrangement of names, typing errors in official documents etc). It is governed by the Statutory Declarations Act.
2. The Step-by-Step Process
Step 1: Drafting the Document
You (the “deponent/declarant”) or a lawyer like Arnold Ashaba must write out the facts in clear, numbered paragraphs.
- Accuracy is Vital: You are swearing that the information is true. Knowingly making a false statement is perjury, which is a criminal offense in Uganda.
- Exhibits: If you are referring to other documents (like a police report, national ID, passport, land title etc), they must be attached and labeled (e.g., “Exhibit A”).
Step 2: Locate a Commissioner for Oaths
In Uganda, these documents must be signed in the presence of an authorized official. Arnold can help you do that.
Step 3: Swearing and Signing
You must physically appear before the Commissioner. They will verify your identity (bring your National ID or Passport), ask you to swear an oath or affirm the truth of the contents, and then witness your signature. The Commissioner will then stamp and sign the document.
Step 4: Registration (Required for Certain Uses)
For documents like land caveats or name changes etc, the document must be registered with the Uganda Registration Services Bureau (URSB).
- Cost: The lawyer will charge you his fees, the stamp duty and registration.
3. Estimated Costs (2026)
| Service | Estimated Fee (UGX) |
| Commissioning Fee | UGX 20,000 – UGX 50,000 |
| Lawyer’s Drafting Fee | About UGX 200,000 (varies by complexity) |
| URSB Registration | UGX 35,000 |
| Stamp Duty | UGX 15,000 |
4. Checklist of Requirements
- Identification: Original National ID (for citizens) or Passport (for non-citizens).
- Draft Document: A printed copy of the statement .
- Supporting Proof: If declaring a lost item, bring a Police Letter. If declaring a name change, bring relevant academic or birth records.
Note: If you are currently outside Uganda and need a document for use within the country, you must swear it before a Notary Public in your current location and then have it registered with the Registrar of Documents in Uganda.
Are you preparing this document for a specific purpose, such as a name change, lost ID, a land transaction etc?
FOR PERSONALIZED LEGAL SERVICES & GUIDANCE CALL OR EMAIL ARNOLD
WhatsApp/Phone: +256 709 669443
Email: legalservice.uganda@gmail.com
Location: Kampala road, Mabirizi complex, 6th floor, Office AP05-Kampala, Uganda.