Building wealth is only part of the journey; ensuring that it is protected and passed on according to your wishes is equally important. In Uganda, many families and business owners have accumulated valuable assets—real estate, businesses, investments, land, movable property—yet have not put in place clear arrangements for succession. The result is often conflict, fragmentation of assets, stalled businesses, and loss of value.
GIC Uganda’s Estate planning Uganda advisory helps individuals, families, and business owners design structured plans for how their wealth will be managed, protected, and transferred over time. We coordinate with legal, tax, and financial specialists to create integrated solutions that respect your values, your obligations, and your long-term aspirations.
Our focus is to give you clarity and peace of mind, knowing that your affairs are organised and your loved ones are protected.
Why Estate Planning Matters
Without deliberate Estate planning in Uganda:
- Assets may be distributed according to default inheritance rules, not personal intention.
- Surviving family members can face uncertainty, disagreement, and financial strain.
- Ongoing businesses may suffer leadership vacuums or ownership disputes.
- Tax exposures, debt obligations, or legal claims can erode the estate’s value.
- Beneficiaries may not be adequately prepared to manage or steward assets.
Estate planning is not only for the very wealthy. Anyone who owns property, operates a business, supports dependants, or has specific wishes for their assets benefits from a considered plan.
Why Clients Work With GIC Uganda
Holistic Perspective on Wealth, Family and Business
We view estate planning as more than drafting a will. We consider your family relationships, cultural context, business interests, charitable intentions, and long-term objectives. Our aim is to create a framework that is both legally sound and practically workable.
Collaboration with Specialist Lawyers and Tax Practitioners
GIC Uganda is not a law firm, but we work closely with experienced legal and tax professionals. We coordinate the overall planning process, while specific instruments—wills, trusts, powers of attorney, and other documents—are prepared and validated by qualified practitioners.
Clear Communication and Structured Process
Estate planning can feel complex and sensitive. We break the process into manageable steps, explain options in plain language, and provide structured recommendations that you can review with your family and advisers.
What Our Estate Planning Service Covers
Estate Mapping and Objective Setting
We begin by understanding your current situation and your priorities. Key questions explored are:
- What assets do you currently own (in Uganda and elsewhere)?
- How are these assets held (individual names, joint ownership, company structures, informal arrangements)?
- Who depends on you financially, and in what ways?
- What are your wishes regarding how assets should be distributed or managed?
- What role should your business or investments play across generations?
This mapping exercise forms the foundation for all further planning.
Will Planning and Core Testamentary Arrangements
A clear, valid will is a central element of most estate plans. Our advisory areas include:
- Identifying appropriate executors and guardians (where minor children are involved).
- Structuring bequests to spouses, children, dependants, and other beneficiaries.
- Providing for special circumstances (e.g., dependants with disabilities, education funds).
- Aligning the will with ownership structures, such as shares in companies or interests in partnerships.
- Clarifying the relationship between the will and any existing customary or religious expectations, where relevant.
We help you think through these decisions before lawyers prepare the formal document.
Business Succession and Continuity Planning
For business owners, estate planning must address not only personal assets but also the continuity of the enterprise. Areas of focus are:
- Clarifying whether the business should remain family-owned, be sold, or be entrusted to professional management.
- Defining roles for family members in ownership, governance, and management.
- Designing shareholding structures and shareholder agreements that support succession.
- Considering buy-sell arrangements, key-person insurance, or other mechanisms to provide liquidity.
Our advisory aims to preserve both the value and the relationships around the business.
Use of Structures for Asset Protection and Management
In some cases, it may be appropriate to use vehicles such as companies, trusts, or foundations to hold assets. Key considerations are:
- Whether certain assets should be separated from personal ownership for protection or management reasons.
- How control and benefit will be balanced between generations.
- Tax and regulatory implications of chosen structures.
- Governance arrangements for family decision-making and conflict resolution.
We do not promote unnecessary complexity; we recommend structures only where they add clear, demonstrable value.
Family Governance, Communication and Implementation
Even the best-drafted documents may fail if family members are unprepared or unaware. Implementation support may include:
- Facilitating family discussions around values, intentions, and expectations.
- Helping articulate a simple family charter or set of guiding principles.
- Coordinating with lawyers and financial institutions to align documentation and beneficiary designations.
- Suggesting periodic reviews of the estate plan as circumstances change.
Estate planning is not a one-time event; it is a process that evolves with your life.
Who Benefits from Estate Planning in Uganda?
Our Estate planning in Uganda advisory is designed for:
- Business owners and entrepreneurs with operating companies or investments.
- Professionals and executives with accumulated assets and dependants.
- Families with property in multiple locations or complex family structures.
- High-net-worth individuals seeking structured, multi-generational planning.
- Anyone who wishes to reduce family conflict and uncertainty regarding inheritance.
Put Your Affairs in Order with Confidence
Estate planning is an act of responsibility and care. It protects your loved ones, provides clarity in difficult moments, and preserves the value you have worked hard to build.
GIC Uganda helps you design an estate plan that is:
- Legally robust
- Aligned with your values and relationships
- Practical to implement
- Flexible enough to adapt over time