SUCCESS STORY: Fort Portal Centre Saves Siblings From Homelessness - Justice Centres Uganda
Edith and Francis sought legal assistance from the Fort Portal Centre after hearing over the radio about the free legal services JCU renders. Their issue was that their brother Reagan (pseudonym) had made their lives so unbearable after their father’s demise five years ago.

SUCCESS STORY: Fort Portal Centre Saves Siblings From Homelessness

This story portrays discrimination in the use and enjoyment of inherited property where one sibling takes the lion’s share at the expense of the other siblings.

Edith and Francis sought legal assistance from the Fort Portal Centre after hearing over the radio about the free legal services JCU provides. Their issue was that their brother Reagan had made their lives so unbearable after their father’s demise five years ago. When their father passed on, Reagan demolished their father’s house and built a house for only his family (wife and children), which left Edith and Francis practically homeless. Reagan instead dictated that his siblings reside in his new house which was still a building site and incomplete.

The parties later developed conflicts. Francis, feeling disgruntled about the situation informed family members especially the administrator, Gilbert, about Reagan’s conduct however the administrator’s intervention made no difference and this persuaded Francis to report the dispute to the Chairperson LC1 Kanyambeho ‘A’ Village. The chairperson also tried to intervene but was not able to settle the disputes despite various attempts.

On 25th August 2020, the matter was reported to JCU where the advocate conducted a series of mediations between the parties, other family members and area local leaders. Eventually, they came to an amicable decision where a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) was signed on 7th September 2020. In the MoU, Reagan would build another house for his siblings. All the participants were then sensitised on the law governing estate property. JCU tasked the LC1 Committee to visit the land in dispute together with the parties to demarcate the land where the house would be built. Reagan had initially promised to construct the house within six months, however due to unexpected financial challenges, the construction period was extended.

On the 22nd January 2021, the JCU advocate made a follow up exercise where it was revealed that Reagan had fully constructed the house and was left with fixing the doors, windows, cementing the floor, installing electricity and water. Another follow up was conducted on the 4th of September 2021 to inspect the house and an agreement was signed between the parties stating that Edith and Francis (the siblings) shift from Reagan’s incomplete house to the new house upon its completion.

Finally, on 3rd October 2021, the long-awaited day came and it was all bliss when Edith and Francis finally left the incomplete house they had been subjected to staying in and moved into their newly constructed home. Francis and Edith were ecstatic that their father’s home had been rebuilt. We are overwhelmed by happiness though it is not reflected on our faces due to the deep sorrows we have suffered, but finally we have a home where our children can sleep.” said Francis as he appreciated JCU’s intervention.

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