By Denis Mukisa
A 16-year dispute over the estate of the late Philimon Makobero has escalated in Kayunga District, with his daughters accusing the family heir of mismanaging the deceased’s property and denying them their rightful inheritance.
The daughters, led by Robinah Makobero, say they have been sidelined in decisions concerning their father’s estate despite efforts by the family to identify and share his properties.
Robinah told a family meeting that after relatives traced the late Makobero’s assets and agreed on how they would be distributed, the family’s appointed successor, John Makobero, allegedly became unreachable on the day the property was to be shared.
She further accused him of continuing to use the family land without consulting the other beneficiaries, claiming he has been renting it out for cultivation and keeping the proceeds.
“We want to legally receive our shares so that each of us can manage our own property,” Robinah said, arguing that the daughters have been excluded from decisions regarding their father’s estate.
The dispute was discussed during a family meeting attended by seven of the late Makobero’s 10 children.
Annet Awinjo, the chairperson of Nawankonge Village in Kafumba Parish, Kayonza Sub-county, confirmed that the late Philimon Makobero owned land in the area.
She said part of the land was donated by the deceased to the community and now serves as a football playground, while other portions are occupied by squatters.
According to Awinjo, tensions have intensified because tenants occupying parts of the estate continue to pay rent directly to the family heir without the knowledge or consent of the other beneficiaries.
Addressing the meeting, Kayunga District Probation and Social Welfare Officer Collins Kafeero reminded the family that Uganda’s Succession Act requires anyone administering the estate of a deceased person to first obtain letters of administration before handling or distributing the property.
He warned that under the amended law, anyone who unlawfully interferes with a deceased person’s estate risks imprisonment of up to 10 years.
Kafeero also emphasized that daughters and sons have equal rights to inherit family property and noted that beneficiaries can challenge or remove a family successor who fails to fulfil his responsibilities.
“Heirs are not owners of the estate but custodians entrusted with safeguarding family property until it is lawfully distributed,” Kafeero explained.
He advised the family that all the deceased’s assets must first be identified and consolidated before any distribution can take place.
Despite being given an opportunity to respond to the allegations, John Makobero did not comment during the meeting.
Kafeero directed that all unauthorized renting of the estate land should stop immediately until all the deceased’s 10 children agree on how the property should be managed.
He urged the family to resolve the matter through the relevant legal offices rather than engaging in prolonged conflict over inherited wealth.
Kafeero also expressed concern over the increasing number of inheritance-related disputes in Kayunga District, saying such conflicts are contributing to domestic violence and the breakdown of families.
He encouraged the Makobero family to obtain letters of administration, complete the lawful distribution of the estate and maintain harmony among themselves.
Quoting a Luganda saying, Kafeero reminded the family that “Buli kimu kigwaawo,” meaning everything eventually comes to an end, urging them to settle the dispute peacefully before it causes further divisions.
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