Family & Parenting
Nabakooba calls for church action over rising family estate disputes
The minister also urged all leaders to use such occasions to remind communities about the importance of justice, peace and respect for other people’s rights.
Lands Minister Judith Nabakooba talks to Bishop of Kiyinda-Mityana Diocese Dr Joseph Anthony Zziwa. (Courtesy photo).
By: Vision Reporter, Journalist @New Vision
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Lands Minister Judith Nabakooba has urged the Church to step up efforts to resolve family land disputes.
Poor estate planning, inheritance disagreements and fraudulent land transactions are increasingly threatening peace in communities, the minister revealed.
Using the pulpit, Nabakooba recently said that religious leaders are strategically positioned and should educate communities about land rights, inheritance and responsible management of family property.
She made the call as Kiyinda-Mityana Diocese celebrated Justice and Peace Day held on September 27, in Mityana town.
The minister also urged all leaders to use such occasions to remind communities about the importance of justice, peace and respect for other people’s rights.
She reminded leaders at all levels to remind the populace that government had established laws and institutions to protect citizens against violations of their rights
“Justice and freedom are the responsibility of all of us, and we must ensure that they prevail in our communities for the development of everyone. Justice and peace are also essential for stability in families and communities,” Nabakooba stressed.
The minister urged Christians to use legal avenues to protect their rights and seek redress whenever disputes arise, including through community paralegals, village and parish leaders, the police, courts and the Equal Opportunities Commission.
Addressing a huge congregation, Nabakooba identified family property disputes as a growing source of conflict, particularly where parents die without adequately preparing their children to manage their estates.
She cited a recent case involving an 80-year-old blind man whose son allegedly attempted to sell family property despite a written will prohibiting its sale.
“In this case, the son hired a tractor to clear the land even before the death of his parent. Moreover, there was a written will clearly indicating that no one is allowed to sell,” she narrated.
She urged church leaders to use sermons and other platforms to sensitise communities about estate planning, saying proper preparation could help prevent disputes after property owners die.
The minister urged the congregation to document details of their assets to avoid nasty family disputes. “If you refuse to plan, someone else will plan for you. Planning and knowing how your property will be transferred, whether you are there or not, helps to prevent disputes and conflicts,” she said.
Nabakooba also cautioned village chairpersons against abusing their offices to facilitate fraudulent land transactions, saying some were allegedly misusing official stamps to facilitate illegal deals.
“There is no legal mandate stating that chairpersons are the only ones who are supposed to write agreements. They misuse stamps to create fraud by selling one plot several times,” she quipped.
The minister urged Christians to use legal avenues to protect their rights and seek redress whenever disputes arise, including through community paralegals, village and parish leaders, the police, courts and the Equal Opportunities Commission.
Addressing a huge congregation, Nabakooba identified family property disputes as a growing source of conflict, particularly where parents die without adequately preparing their children to manage their estates.
She cited a recent case involving an 80-year-old blind man whose son allegedly attempted to sell family property despite a written will prohibiting its sale.
“In this case, the son hired a tractor to clear the land even before the death of his parent. Moreover, there was a written will clearly indicating that no one is allowed to sell,” she narrated.
She urged church leaders to use sermons and other platforms to sensitise communities about estate planning, saying proper preparation could help prevent disputes after property owners die.
The minister urged the congregation to document details of their assets to avoid nasty family disputes. “If you refuse to plan, someone else will plan for you. Planning and knowing how your property will be transferred, whether you are there or not, helps to prevent disputes and conflicts,” she said.
Nabakooba also cautioned village chairpersons against abusing their offices to facilitate fraudulent land transactions, saying some were allegedly misusing official stamps to facilitate illegal deals.
“There is no legal mandate stating that chairpersons are the only ones who are supposed to write agreements. They misuse stamps to create fraud by selling one plot several times,” she quipped.
The minister also cited cases where bereaved forge letters of administration in attempt to reclaim property which was bequeathed by the deceased. Such cases involve Church property, particularly land donated to religious institutions.
She cited a dispute in Bukalamuli village involving a school and a Church that had existed for years. According to Nabakooba, a grandchild allegedly obtained a land title in 2025 and later claimed that the institutions did not exist.
She said the dispute highlighted the need for families to respect property and institutions established by previous generations.
Relatedly, the Bishop of Kiyinda-Mityana Diocese said the responsibility for building a peaceful society began with individuals. He urged Christians to become their “brother’s or sister’s keeper” and promote peace within their families and communities. The bishop also called on people involved in any form of wrongdoing to repent, saying everyone was on a journey and deserved an opportunity to change.
Mr Fredrick Ssemwanga, a lawyer from the Uganda Episcopal Conference in Kampala, identified poverty as another source of domestic conflict and urged people to work hard to improve their livelihoods.
“Peace in families is difficult to achieve where households were not properly organised. When a man comes home every day without money, he can become increasingly angry,” Ssemwanga said.
Rev. Fr Paul Keeya, the Justice and Peace coordinator at Kiyinda-Mityana Diocese, said the ministry of justice and peace was rooted in the Holy Scriptures.
He said the diocese conducted community sensitisation programmes on domestic violence, inheritance, wills and children’s rights.
Rev. Fr Keeya added that the Church received numerous cases involving domestic violence and was preparing capacity-building sessions to strengthen its response.
She cited a dispute in Bukalamuli village involving a school and a Church that had existed for years. According to Nabakooba, a grandchild allegedly obtained a land title in 2025 and later claimed that the institutions did not exist.
She said the dispute highlighted the need for families to respect property and institutions established by previous generations.
Relatedly, the Bishop of Kiyinda-Mityana Diocese said the responsibility for building a peaceful society began with individuals. He urged Christians to become their “brother’s or sister’s keeper” and promote peace within their families and communities. The bishop also called on people involved in any form of wrongdoing to repent, saying everyone was on a journey and deserved an opportunity to change.
Mr Fredrick Ssemwanga, a lawyer from the Uganda Episcopal Conference in Kampala, identified poverty as another source of domestic conflict and urged people to work hard to improve their livelihoods.
“Peace in families is difficult to achieve where households were not properly organised. When a man comes home every day without money, he can become increasingly angry,” Ssemwanga said.
Rev. Fr Paul Keeya, the Justice and Peace coordinator at Kiyinda-Mityana Diocese, said the ministry of justice and peace was rooted in the Holy Scriptures.
He said the diocese conducted community sensitisation programmes on domestic violence, inheritance, wills and children’s rights.
Rev. Fr Keeya added that the Church received numerous cases involving domestic violence and was preparing capacity-building sessions to strengthen its response.