Barely a month after the passing of prominent businessman and philanthropist James Musinguzi Garuga, a bitter family battle has erupted over control of his vast estate, valued at more than shs 1 trillion.
According to court documents accessed by this website, the dispute pits Garuga’s first-born son, Alwyn Carl Musinguzi, against his mother, Peace Kesime Musinguzi, who recently applied for sole letters of administration over the estate. The case has been registered under Administration Cause No. 1046 of 2025 at the High Court in Kampala.
Alwyn has lodged a caveat to block his mother’s bid, accusing her of fraudulently and grossly under-declaring the late tycoon’s assets. He claims the true value of the estate runs into trillions of shillings, covering prime real estate, expansive ranches, multiple agribusiness ventures, tourism properties, and financial holdings.
Among the listed assets are Garuga’s Mbuya mansion, the Rugyeyo country home, rentals in Kampala, over 152 land titles in Garuga through Garuga Properties Ltd, ranches in Ngoma and Kyankwanzi, as well as major shareholding in Kigezi Highland Tea Ltd, which operates four tea factories. He also points to the 35-acre Savanna Resort Hotel Ltd in Kanungu, which boasts a golf course and private airstrip.
Alwyn further contends that his mother did not obtain the legally required Certificate of No Objection from the Administrator General before seeking to take over administration. He argues that since all beneficiaries are adults, the estate should be jointly administered rather than left in the hands of one person. He also raised concerns over his mother’s “medical struggles,” questioning her capacity to manage a business empire of such scale alone.
The court battle now exposes deep fissures in a family that only weeks ago was united in mourning one of Uganda’s most celebrated businessmen and political figures. Garuga, a founding member of the Forum for Democratic Change (FDC) and a pioneer investor in tea and hospitality, died on August 6, 2025, at the age of 72.
As the legal wrangles unfold, the future of his sprawling empire remains uncertain, raising fears that a legacy built over decades of enterprise and philanthropy could be consumed by family disputes.
