Ugandans have been strongly encouraged to embrace the practice of writing wills as a means of protecting their estates and preventing family conflicts after death.
The call was made during a free legal aid camp organized by the Rotary Club of Bulindo at Bulindo Catholic Church grounds. The event aimed to address widespread ignorance of the law and improve access to justice within the community.
Justus Kato from the Office of the Administrator General underscored the importance of will-making, stressing that most disputes handled by his office arise from families of people who died intestate (without a will).
“As the Office of the Administrator General, we deal with the estate of the deceased. Most of the cases we have in Uganda come from people dying without making a will, and this creates unnecessary family conflicts,” Kato said.
He outlined the advantages of writing a will.
“When you die with a will, it saves your family from conflict. It gives you the right while still alive to distribute your estate. You know your children, you know the beneficiaries, you know who has been around for you, so you can distribute accordingly,” he explained.
Kato also stressed the requirements for a valid will.
“You must sign the will, have at least two witnesses, and appoint executors who will enforce it. Executors are required to perform their duties within one year after death. Without this, your will risks being challenged,” he said.
He warned that intestate succession often leads to long court battles.
“Most conflicts we see in families come when someone dies without a will. That is why I urge Ugandans to take this seriously. A valid will streamlines the estate and protects your loved ones,” Kato emphasized.
The camp attracted hundreds of residents from Bulindo and surrounding areas, many of whom sought guidance on land ownership, tenants’ rights, taxation, succession, family disputes, and access to bail.
Paul Percy Lubega, President of the Rotary Club of Bulindo, explained that the initiative was part of the club’s focus on peace and conflict resolution.
“As the Rotary Club of Bulindo is a community-based club, we face many challenges in society, including high crime rates that would have been avoided if people knew the law. We organized this legal camp to allow people to understand issues of law and to interface with organizations that can help them,” Lubega said.
He noted that land wrangles were especially rampant in Bulindo and Kira, some of the fastest-growing areas in Uganda.
“With land acquisition and construction come many conflicts. This legal camp is very timely because it addresses challenges that arise from urbanization,” he said.
Lubega also reminded residents that ignorance of the law is no defense.
“One of the biggest problems we face as a society is ignorance. In our constitution, it is clear that ignorance is no defense. You must know all the time,” he urged.
Residents received free services in legal literacy, dispute resolution, succession planning, land ownership rights, taxation law, family and child protection, business and employment law, and referrals.
The Rotary Club pledged to continue organizing similar initiatives to strengthen communities through knowledge and empowerment.
