President Yoweri Museveni has supported Prof. Apolo Nsibambi’s choice for a female heir, chosen among his children defining it as a sane decision, even when it defies African tradition.
Prof Nsibambi named his eldest daughter Rhoda Nakimuli Kasujja as his heir evoking criticism within Buganda., Kingdom where many still believe that inheritance is a preserve of the boy child. Buganda Kingdom officials argued that in his choice, Prof Nsibambi put modernity ahead of tradition, thereby endorsing an abomination.
The head of the Ffumbe clan, to which Nsibambi belonged, also instituted investigations to ascertain whether the deceased did not have a male relative within the entire lineage, who would be named an heir. The clan head Walusimbi Mbirozankya argued that it was against the Buganda tradition for a girl to be her father’s heir saying that in absence of a male child, a nephew is chosen or a brother to the deceased.
But in his speech following the 2019/2020 budget reading by Finance Minister Matia Kasaija at Kampala Serena Hotel on Thursday, President Museveni said that it was sane for girls to inherit their parents’ wealth and responsibilities in certain circumstances. He said he had a discussion with Nsibambi about his choice long before he passed on.
President Museveni also observed a need for a thorough talk on rational traditions and modern science. He said that Africa cannot be strong with traditions that disable her hence a need for all traditions to be audited.
“I saw Lawyer Mulira arguing legally about the issue of the heir of prof. Nsibambi. With me, when dealing with issues I never start with legality but with legitimacy. Is it legitimate? Is it reasonable? Is it rational for girls to inherit their parents’ wealth and responsibilities in some circumstances?” Museveni asked amidst applause from the audience.
The president also revealed that the late Prof. Nsibambi had told him about his determination to make his daughter the heir.
“I am a traditionalist but a traditionalist who wants a strong Africa… Africa cannot be strong with the traditions that disable her. Therefore, all traditions must be audited with that in mind,” he said.
Museveni added that in the modern context, it is legitimate and reasonable for girls to inherit their parent’s wealth and responsibilities in some circumstances and gave an example of the Banyankore in the past who never allowed girls to inherit for very good reasons.
“The Banyankore, like the other tribes of this area, are exogamous and also patrilineal. Moreover, the clans were, sometimes, at war with one another.” The President cited.
“Since the girl had to marry outside the clan, was it wise to allow her to take the heritage of the clan to the clan of her marriage? What if this clan was to fight us tomorrow? Those were the considerations of that time and they were legitimate.” He admitted before adding.
“Today, however, the considerations are different. The main challenge is to produce modern wealth ─ commercial agriculture, factories, hotel, ICT companies,” he remarked.
He disregarded tradition forcing someone to make a person who is not worth being their heir just because he is male or leaves the powers of selecting the heir to the clan members some of whom may not have bothered to wake up to the need for modernization.
Museveni said, “The way the law is, now, is reasonable. It gives absolute powers to the creator of the wealth to dispose of it the way he/she deems fit except for the children who are still minors. I think those are entitled to something and spouses are also, I think, entitled to something.”
He further said the views of the wealth creators should not be discouraged by interfering with the will of the dead because the living wealth creators may then be discouraged to work hard in fear of their will being messed up by their clan.
Nsibambi, 78, served as Prime Minister from 1999 until 2011. Professor Nsibambi became the first non-Head of State Chancellor of Makerere University from 2003 to 2007.
