A bitter family dispute over the estate of former Bank of Uganda Governor Emmanuel Tumusiime-Mutebile has escalated into a legal battle, with his son, Duncan Tumusiime Mutebile, accusing the administrators of concealing property, making disputed land transfers and arranging his confinement in a psychiatric facility. The allegations have added a new dimension to the increasingly contentious fight over the late economist’s estate, with questions surrounding property ownership, family relationships and the circumstances of Duncan’s confinement now attracting legal scrutiny.
The allegations are contained in Civil Suit No. 342 of 2026, filed before the Family Division of the High Court in Kampala. Duncan, acting through his paternal uncle, Joseph Ntegyereize Mutebile, and maternal uncle, Caleb Karyaho Tukaikiriza, is seeking the revocation of letters of administration granted to his stepmother, Betty Tumusiime Mutebile, and David Kyomukama Mutebile. His legal team argues that the administrators failed to provide a complete and accurate account of the assets belonging to the deceased’s estate.
According to the court filings, Duncan alleges that several valuable properties and financial interests were omitted from the estate inventories. The assets he identifies reportedly include commercial properties along Mabua Road in Kololo, shares in Garuga Properties Ltd, a matooke plantation in Lwengo, forestry land in Nakaseke and various bank accounts. He further alleges that some estate assets, including the Kololo property, were transferred into Betty Mutebile’s personal name without his consent. These claims have yet to be established by the court.
Beyond the property dispute, the case has taken a more serious turn following allegations that Duncan was involuntarily confined in psychiatric facilities to prevent him from challenging decisions concerning the estate. His attorneys specifically cited Hope and Beyond Rehabilitation Centre in Mpigi, claiming that his confinement was arranged unlawfully. On September 28, 2026, the legal team lodged a complaint with the Office of the Director of Public Prosecutions and Kira Road Police Station, seeking an investigation into alleged kidnapping and unlawful confinement under Section 227 of the Penal Code Act. The allegations remain subject to investigation.
However, the estate administrators have strongly challenged Duncan’s position, disputing his claim to be the biological son of the former central bank governor. In their written defence filed on October 14, 2026, they reportedly contend that his biological father is a man identified as Disan Tumusiime. They have also questioned the validity of a power of attorney Duncan executed on September 9, 2026, arguing that he has bipolar affective disorder and was coerced by his attorneys, whom they accuse of pursuing personal interests. These assertions are contested and have not been conclusively determined by the court.
Duncan’s attorneys have rejected the administrators’ arguments, saying they possess a birth certificate supporting his claim of parentage. They have also presented a psychiatric evaluation reportedly conducted at Kira Health Centre IV on September 24, 2026. According to the legal team, the assessment by Senior Psychiatric Clinical Officer Charles Mupere found Duncan’s cognition intact, established that he was fully oriented and identified no established psychopathology. They are relying on the report to challenge claims that he lacked the mental capacity to execute the power of attorney.
The complaint over Duncan’s alleged confinement has also prompted action from prosecutorial and police authorities. On October 22, 2026, state prosecutor Hanifa Kasana reportedly directed the Divisional Criminal Investigations Officer at Kira Road Police Station to submit the police file for consideration. A day later, Deputy Assistant Superintendent of Police Flavia Natabirwa Namutebi wrote to the administrator of Hope and Beyond Rehabilitation Centre requesting Duncan’s medical history and directing that he be transferred to a government facility for assessment by a state psychiatrist. The steps indicate that the allegations have entered a formal investigative process, although they do not amount to a finding of wrongdoing.
The dispute now places the management of Mutebile’s estate under growing legal scrutiny, with the High Court expected to address the contested administration arrangements while the relevant authorities consider the confinement allegations. At stake are not only valuable properties and financial interests but also disputed questions of parentage, legal capacity and the rights of the parties involved. Until the court and investigative authorities reach their respective conclusions, the accusations made by both sides remain allegations rather than established facts.
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