The High Court in Jinja has criticised Florence Joyce Kirabo, the widow of late businessman and politician Moses Kalisa Kalangwa, over allegations that she cut off financial support for his children from other relationships. In a ruling delivered on October 26, 2026, Justice Lawrence Gidudu said the move threatened the children’s education and access to basic necessities, despite the estate having resources to support them.

Justice Gidudu described the alleged decision to stop the children’s financial support as an act of bad faith. The court heard that Kirabo had obtained an order preventing tenants from paying rent that had previously helped meet the needs of some of Kalangwa’s children who were not biologically hers.

Kalangwa died at Nakasero Hospital on May 18, 2026, following a fatal accident, leaving behind at least 11 children, some reportedly as young as 11. His estate includes about 20 companies, commercial buildings, farms, livestock and sugarcane plantations spread across several districts, making the administration of his wealth a major point of contention among family members.

The dispute began after Kirabo and her sons, Emmanuel Kamugisha and Michael Ezra Karuhanga, sought probate of a will allegedly left by the deceased. However, Jackline Kobusingye Birungi, Moses Kalisa and Hanisa Kemigisha challenged the document, arguing that it favoured Kirabo and her children while leaving other beneficiaries with little or uncertain claims to the estate. They also questioned the will’s authenticity, allegations Kirabo denied.

In his ruling, Justice Gidudu emphasised that children who depended on their father for education and other essential needs should not automatically lose that support following his death. He said the estate should continue meeting their needs where it has sufficient resources, stressing that a child’s education should not be interrupted because of a dispute involving surviving family members.

Although the judge criticised Kirabo’s alleged actions, he declined to remove her from the estate administration. Instead, he appointed Kirabo and Birungi as joint temporary administrators while the court considers the challenge to the will. Under the arrangement, Birungi will manage rental income from Plot 26 Namirembe Road in Rubaga, Kampala, to cater for the needs of children who are not biologically related to Kirabo, while Kirabo will oversee the remaining properties and businesses.

The court directed the two administrators to cooperate, account for the money collected and share information about the estate. They were also barred from selling, mortgaging, leasing or distributing estate property until the main dispute is resolved. Justice Gidudu further overturned an earlier order from the Mengo Chief Magistrate’s Court requiring tenants to deposit rent into a court account, ruling that the lower court lacked jurisdiction over the estate dispute.

The judge warned that a neutral administrator could be appointed if the two fail to work together and said their performance would be reviewed after 90 days. The main case challenging Kalangwa’s will is scheduled to begin on February 1, 2027, although the court has encouraged the family to consider mediation. Until the dispute is settled, the immediate priority remains protecting the estate and ensuring that the deceased’s children are not deprived of education, food, accommodation and medical care.