Zari Hassan, Ssemwanga family property war takes nasty turn

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The property war between Zari Hassan and the family of her late ex-husband Ivan Ssemwanga has taken a dramatic turn. Earlier this week, she attacked the Ssemwanga family on social media and alleged that they were trying to steal the late husband’s property, which should belong to her and their children.

Zari and Ivan were traditionally married in 2011. She later got engaged to Tanzanian Bongo star Diamond Platnumz, with whom she has two children.

In a Zoom interview on July 22, 2024, Zari clarified that she and her children have faced harassment from Ssemwanga’s family since his passing.

"Pinto Ntale was made the official heir of Ivan Ssemwanga’s properties following a family meeting held at their ancestral home in Nakaliro village, Kayunga District. At that time, Pinto was 18 years old,” she said. She further argued that she did not get 50% shares in their Blue Clean Company because she was his widow, but because she contributed to its growth.

She went ahead and lambasted Ssemwanga’s brothers for not looking after the late brother’s children. “I am the legal guardian, and I have truly done my job to raise my children safely and well as a responsible mother, they all have their apartments and own cars with their personal businesses all done by me alone,” she said.

Addressing the current administration of Ssemwanga’s estate, she said she had kicked out his brothers from management. “I have removed both of his brothers, Kinene and Ssemwanga, from the payroll for their misbehavior. They were all on the payroll and received monthly payments. Kinene was one of the directors of Blue Clean Company and used to earn $20,000 (sh75m), while his younger brother Ssemwanga used to get $5,000 (sh19m),” she fumed.

The Ssemwanga’s fight back

However, the brothers have hit back. George Ssemwanga, in an interview, says the reason for Zari’s attack has nothing to do with securing the property for the children. “It is because she was upset over a disagreement we had.

She requested that we sell Ivan Ssemwanga’s building in Makerere for $600,000 (sh2.3bn), but the building is actually valued at $40,000 (sh150m). She also sold most of the schools in South Africa, which originally numbered twenty-four (24), leaving only four (4) schools. I refused her request, and she decided to attack us,” says George.

According to him, Zari is indebted to a tune of $12m in rent arrears in South Africa and hopes to offset some of it using money from the sale. George’s fear is that the property may end up in the hands of Zari’s baby daddy Diamond Platinumz, her husband Shakib Lutaaya or another man, instead of going to Ssemwanga’s rightful children.

George claims that Zari wants to claim the property of the children and register it in her names. He also hinted on the matter of a DNA test regarding the heir. “We want to follow the process and confirm all of Ivan’s children,” he says.

Sserunjogi Kinene, a nephew of Ivan Ssemwanga, is also spitting venom. He refuted her claims, and he says that he has proof that they have been taking care of Ivan’s children by paying tuition and providing money for upkeep.

“I have been paying them every week. Each child is supposed to get sh500,000 each week and even last week, I paid for one of them. In addition, every month, they receive sh1.2m from their Ugandan estate,” said Kinene.

“The property is for the children, and no one is fighting for it as she claims. She should follow the proper process to have the property transferred to the children's names,” he advised.

According to Kinene, Ivan left five children, born to different mothers and all should partake of the property. Kinene also revealed that he is not working for the company. He however works from home and not at the school “because of something I saw while there.”

Disturbingly, while the late was known as Ivan Ssemwanga here in Uganda, he used to go by a different tag in South Africa – Ali Ssenyomo. The latter is the name Zari says he used to sign company share documents which she has.