Robert Bogere Ali, the Assistant Administrator General under the Ministry of Justice and Constitutional Affairs, has given tips to Resident City Commissioners (RCCs), Resident District Commissioners (RDCs), and District Internal Security Officers (DISOs) from Rwenzori and Bunyoro subregions on how to handle inheritance issues and succession of deceased assets matters.

During a two-day workshop organized by the office of the President in Hoima City, the assistant administrator general gave guidelines on what a recognized will must have, what are the accepted marriages, and under what circumstances a will can be nullified.

Robert Bogere hinted at how the law has changed on the distribution of the assets of the deceased.

“When you distribute an estate, the law has changed to now take 1% for the heir, 20% for the spouse, 4 % for the dependent relatives, and 75% for the children.” He said.

“In instances where there is no other spouse, the children take 95% of the assets. If there are no children, the spouse takes 50% and the other dependents take 50% as well.” Robert added.

“About the will, all witnesses on wills must always sign on each page of the will with full names and physical addresses; also, don’t make a will until you are 18 years old; make a will with a sober and sound mind; and never make a will under duress.” Robert Warned. 

“The law also creates the offense of evicting or attempting to evict from a residential holding a lineal descendant or dependent relative who is entitled to occupy the residential holding.
Offenders will now suffer a fine of Shs1.36 million or imprisonment for up to 7 years, or both imprisonment and fine.” Robert Explained.

Robert also hinted that disposing of residential property will now require the consent of lineal descendants and the living spouse, a move activists say will end the habit of rendering people homeless, especially widows, after the death of their spouses because of family members ganging up to dispose of residential property.

“The new legislation now says that a woman, whether divorced or not, has a claim to the estate, especially on things achieved while the marriage subsisted.” Said Robert.

In his final remarks, the assistant administrator general asked the RDCs and RCCs to always consult the Administrator General’s office for more clarity before settling issues pertaining to asset inheritance and interpreting wills.

“The capacity-building training was key since some of us are dealing with land wrangles in our districts as a result of inheritance and succession disputes,” said Kasibante Hassan, RCC Hoima City.