“Residents in Kira municipality, have pressed for ordinary and practical clarification of the land, succession and Taxation laws. Answers were sought from representatives from the police, administrator general, URA during at a Pro Bono legal aid camp in area.
This one day community initiative, attracted residents from Bulindo, Kira, Kiwologoma, Kitukutwe, Mulawa and the surrounding areas, to help them understand the law, it’s processes, find solutions to daily issues in property ownership, taxation, tenancy as well as labor externalization.
Immaculate Kibaya, a resident n one of the participants says she the camp has been an eye which has put to light aspects which she previously didn’t understand especially how to handle tenants. “My issue was about the tenants who don’t want to pay rent,” Kibaya mentions, “Some of them, even abandon their house hold properties in the rental.”
Kibaya notes that she has always been disturbed by who she calls “stubborn tenants” who refuse to pay rent, and police the police over looks the matter more so, was not understanding how to legally recover he rental dues, she owes me the absentee tenant. “I have always wanted to know how to recover my money from a tenant who leaves their property with me, after failing to pay, now I know what to do.” Using rental business as the example,
Hassan Ssemwanga, another resident inquired why a business is levied more than three taxes and how such an anomaly which he referred to as ambiguous is prevailing and implemented. “With rentals one pays property tax, ground rent, income tax and rental income,” he exclaimed. “how can such happen and no one is saying any thing about it leaving us to suffer.”
Ssemwanga also asked what happens to his property and beneficiaries in an instance where he dies, and his wife, also passes on after marring another man, who would now have turned into a primary beneficiary of the property which he urged would sideline his offsprings whom he believes are the rightful beneficiaries.
In response, Augustus Kato from the Office of the Administrator General emphasized the importance of writing a will. “Most property disputes come from people dying without wills,” he explained. “A will allows you to decide how your property will be shared. It protects your children and avoids family conflicts.”
Kato cautioned that not every will is valid. For it to be recognized, it must be signed properly, witnessed, and executed within a year after the person’s death. He also noted that wills can be challenged if they were made under duress, without mental stability, or if the instructions are unclear.
“We encourage people to make valid wills while they are still alive and healthy,” he said. “That way, their wishes are respected, and families avoid unnecessary disputes.”
Paul-Persy Lubega, President of the Rotary Club of Bulindo, which organized the camp, said the camp was designed to bridge the gap between the law and ordinary people. “We see so many conflicts in our communities that could be avoided if people had basic legal knowledge,” he said.
“As a club, we usually focus on health and education projects, but we realized that peace and conflict resolution are equally important. You cannot have peace in a community if people are constantly fighting over land, property, or family inheritance,” Lubega added.
He explained that the camp also created opportunities for residents to meet officials from organizations they rarely access directly. For example, representatives from Interpol spoke to families concerned about loved ones working abroad under labor externalization programs. Many parents and spouses did not know whom to contact when their relatives faced problems in foreign countries.
“This camp brought the right people closer to the community,” Lubega said. “Now residents know where to go for help, instead of guessing or relying on rumors.” The issues raised at the Kira camp reflect broader challenges across Uganda. Land disputes remain one of the leading causes of comm