By Denis Jjuuko
There is a series of videos that has been trending on TikTok and other social media platforms where a son is accusing his biological mother of killing his biological father by denying him treatment abroad and/or sanctioning an operation she knew he wouldn’t survive. The videos have been circulating because the deceased was a prominent businessman and one of the wealthiest people in Uganda. And the son claims wealth was the reason his father “was murdered”.
The accusations have caused discussions on social media. Lawyers have recorded podcasts on writing wills and what the law says. Upon listening to these stories, some people said they had started the process of writing wills.
Anyway, fights over property aren’t new and they will never end. Not long ago, somebody else took his father to court accusing him of being too sick to run his business empire and therefore should be appointed his successor. The father who was taken to court is also one of the wealthiest people in the country. It is perhaps the first case in Uganda where one demands for their inheritance when the parent is still alive since the famous prodigal son Bible story.
Many families face this problem including those without wealth to write home about. First born sons are known to throw tantrums when not named heirs of their fathers. Some go at length of forging wills so that they are named heirs or disputing wills of their fathers. Others where they are not elected heirs in case a will didn’t exist cause unbelievable chaos once they lose the election.
Others forcibly occupy the properties while many sell off to unsuspecting buyers and refuse to share with their siblings or even surviving parents. If you watch some of the local news on TV, you will see children evicting their mothers or relatives dislodging widows.
Given the stories that are today going around, wealthy people must be having sleepless nights thinking about what will happen to their estates once gone. More money more problems, Notorious BIG told us decades ago.
In one of those podcasts and X Spaces that have been organised to discuss wills and inheritance, a lawyer from a prominent Kampala law firm urged people to will themselves something. He said when you are writing your will, give yourself 30%. People gasped for breath on hearing that. What would a dead person do with 30%? It didn’t take too long for him to argue that the 30% is what you should be enjoying before you die.
He was perhaps aware that there are many people who live miserable lives while preserving everything for the children. The children, if one is lucky, will wait for the parents to die before going for each other’s throats over the property or even sell it off before the deceased is even buried. The unlucky ones are taken to court or accused of killing their spouses.
Somebody told me that to forestall these fights, he regularly goes on dates with his children reminding them at every given opportunity that his wealth is his and his wife’s only. That he has taken them to the best schools and therefore they have received already their inheritance. He tells them that his wealth wasn’t bequeathed to him by his parents.
He claims they have listened and understood. Maybe they have. But when he isn’t around anymore or in a position where he can’t make decisions, things may turn out different. You see, most people think they have done a great job of raising their children. The children are good at disguising themselves as well. Once the parent is gone or severely incapacitated, the true colors are revealed. This isn’t just in Uganda. The Rupert Murdoch children have been fighting over News Corp (Fox, Sky etc.) for years though they recently agreed to a trust agreement. Their father is still alive but at 95 years old unable to reign them in.
What should parents especially the wealthy ones do? Create a trust that manages the properties and distribute the proceeds as instructed but that idea is still new in Uganda. The easiest way could be for wealthy parents to distribute the assets when still alive, transfer full ownership to those being bequeathed. Many people have done that and limited the flow of bad blood once dead or severely incapacitated.
The writer is a communication and visibility consultant. djjuuko@gmail.com
