Business 15 October 2026 The Observer (Uganda)

Listing Businesses Could Solve Uganda's Inherited Wealth Disputes

As aging Ugandan entrepreneurs prepare to pass on their fortunes, a rise in family feuds over estates is prompting discussions about better succession planning. A potential solution involves listing family businesses on the securities exchange. Source: https://observer.ug/news/listing-of-businesses-could-be-solution-to-rampant-family-feuds

Many pioneering Ugandan entrepreneurs who built significant wealth from the 1960s to the mid-1980s are now facing the natural progression of aging. This demographic shift is unfortunately coinciding with an alarming trend of intense disputes among their children over inheritance and control of family businesses.

These disputes often involve accusations of misconduct, attempts to cheat siblings, and legal battles that clog the courts. While traditional solutions like wills and trusts have been proposed, wills are frequently contested, and trusts are a relatively new concept in Uganda, leaving many families in disarray.

Parents nearing the end of their lives are often too frail to intervene, and some choose to let the disputes unfold after their passing. However, the article suggests that aging entrepreneurs could proactively mitigate these conflicts by distributing assets while they are still alive and able to explain their decisions.

A more innovative approach for those managing substantial businesses is to list them on the securities exchange. This would allow children to benefit from their inheritance through dividends and capital gains without the burden of day-to-day management, which they may not be equipped or inclined to handle.

Many founders built their empires through sheer hard work, often from humble beginnings. Their children, who may have grown up with more privilege and less exposure to business realities, might lack the necessary skills or drive. Listing businesses ensures they continue to operate effectively under professional management, providing financial benefits to the heirs without the risk of mismanagement or collapse.

This strategy allows heirs to enjoy a comfortable lifestyle funded by dividends, rather than inheriting the direct responsibility of running complex operations. It presents a more sustainable model than breaking up valuable enterprises into smaller, potentially unviable units.