Govt pushes estate planning to curb inheritance conflicts
“A certificate of title confirms ownership, but it does not determine who will manage the property during incapacity, whether it should be retained, sold, transferred into a trust or held through a company,” Nabakooba said.
Nabakooba said many land disputes arise not because ownership is unclear, but because property owners fail to plan how their assets will be managed and transferred after death or during incapacity. (Credit: Judith Nabakooba)
KAMPALA - Poor succession planning and failure to update land records are fuelling family conflicts and threatening property ownership in Uganda, lands minister, Judith Nabakooba, has warned.
Nabakooba said many land disputes arise not because ownership is unclear, but because property owners fail to plan how their assets will be managed and transferred after death or during incapacity.
She made the remarks on July 16, 2026, while officiating at the TARA Estate Planning Symposium at Arirang Hotel in Kampala, where she launched the Estate Planning Association, a professional body bringing together lawyers, accountants, trustees, bankers, insurers and financial advisers.
The symposium was held under the theme: Beyond Wealth: Structuring for Continuity, Crisis and Legacy.
The symposium was held under the theme: Beyond Wealth: Structuring for Continuity, Crisis and Legacy. (Credit: Nicholas Oneal)
The minister urged Ugandans to move beyond merely acquiring land titles and embrace comprehensive estate planning to protect family wealth and avoid costly legal battles.
She said leaving land registered in the names of deceased relatives remains one of the leading causes of disputes among beneficiaries, as families struggle to determine the rightful heirs and managers of property.
“Every generation should aim to leave the next better prepared than it was, and estate planning safeguards that goal,” she said.
Nabakooba said estate planning should cover not only land but also businesses, investments, shares and other physical and digital assets.
She called for greater public awareness on documenting land agreements, boundaries and gifts, saying informal arrangements often become the source of prolonged court battles.
The minister cited the Judiciary Performance Report for the quarter ending March 2026, which recorded 7,279 pending cases in the Land Division of the High Court, with about half classified as backlog.
She said the government is strengthening land administration through digitisation, including the expansion of the Land Information System and decentralisation of services through 22 zonal offices.
She also encouraged families facing succession disputes to consider trusteeship arrangements, which allow appointed individuals to manage property on behalf of beneficiaries.
National Planning Authority executive director Dr Joseph Muvawala said the authority supports initiatives aimed at promoting responsible wealth management and orderly succession.
TARA Advocates managing partner Damalie Tibugwisa said estate planning should not be viewed as a subject associated only with death, but as a tool for protecting family assets and ensuring continuity.
She cited public disputes involving prominent personalities as examples of the consequences of failing to plan for succession.
“We have all seen the late Paul Kafeero’s DNA saga that silenced the nation. People fought over a dead body and spent months in court determining where he should be buried,” Tibugwisa said.
She said the initiative would be extended to communities across the country to help Ugandans understand the importance of preparing for the transfer and management of wealth across generations.