Museveni: Let Nsibambi Rest In Peace, His Choice To Make Daughter Heir Is Legitimate

President Yoweri Museveni said has warned leaders of Effumbe clan against imposing on late Professor Apolo Nsibambi’s family a lousy heir just because he is a male.

Museveni noted that as much as lawyers had fronted many legal arguments about the subject, all that he cares about is the legitimacy of Nsibambi’s choice not legality.

“…Actually Nsibambi had told me about his determination to make his daughter heir. Therefore all traditions must be audited. I never stuck with legality but legitimacy, is it legitimate, reasonable rational for girls to inherit their parent’s wealth? In modern context, the answer in unequivocal yes,” Museveni said.

He made stunning remarks today while addressing guests at Kampala Serena Hotel during the reading of the 2019/2020 national budget in which he said that the current laws in place give Ugandans rights to determine who the heir is, warning that having clans determine how wealth will be used might discourage people from acquiring wealth with fear of clans squandering assets of deceased.

The former Premier who died on 20^th May 2019 named his daughter Ruth Nakimuli Kasujja as heiress, a decision that caused a heated debate with Walusimbi Mbirozankya, head of the Effumbe clan to which Nsibambi belonged, noting that what the former premier did was wrong.

The clan leader went on to choose a nephew to Nsibambi as the heir saying it is against Buganda tradition for a girl to inherit his father.

However, speaking out on the subject for the very first time, Museveni rubbished the claim from the clan leader saying the laws of Uganda are on Nsibambi’s side to choose who his heir is and no tradition should take away his right.

“Is it reasonable for tradition to force a family a lousy nephew because he is a male to the clan members some of whom may have never bothered to wake up to the need of modernization. The way the law is, it is reasonable and gives the owner right to do what he deems right. What Africa wants is wealth creation and not negative traditional and heirs,” Museveni said to the applause of guests.