BUSINESS | WILL | KIGOZI

KAMPALA - Former Uganda Investment Authority (UIA) executive director Dr Margaret Kigozi has said the Will her husband left when he died in 1994 enabled her to take over his business as one of its managers. 

Her husband, Eng. Dan Lubwama Kigozi, died when she was 45 years old and now she is 72. 

Eng. Kigozi, who was one of the shareholders and the executive director of Crown Beverages Ltd, breathed his last after privatising Lake Victoria Bottling Company. 

He had led it as executive director for less than two years together with his partners, Amos Nzeyi and Chris Kayoboke. 

His death cut short Maggie’s blossoming medical career just three years after returning from Kenya in 1991. 

The successful entrepreneur, fondly known as Maggie Kigozi, said she took over his shares and became the company's marketing director. 

“I was happily married for many years and when my husband passed away, he left a Will and I was able to take over the business which is doing well,” she said. 

She added that, together with her two partners, they had grown Crown Beverages from less than two million crates a year to now over 60 million crates. 

“My husband left his property to four people, myself and his three children. We just share equally his businesses, land and so we continue running any business together,” Dr Maggie said.  

The three children are Daniel Lubwama Kigozi aka Navio, Michelle Kigozi and Fred Kigozi. 

She made the remarks on March 11, 2023, while appearing on the weekly Urban TV morning talk-show, Press Wall. 

Others who were featured on the show to look at Uganda’s progress toward economic gender parity are senior presidential advisor on gender and youth affairs Florence Nakiwala Kiyingi and National Resistance Movement party women's league national chairperson Lydia Wanyoto. 

(L-R) National Resistance Movement party women's league national chairperson Lydia Wanyoto, senior presidential advisor on gender and youth affairs Florence Nakiwala Kiyingi, former Uganda Investment Authority (UIA) executive director Dr Margaret Kigozi and New Vision's Umar Kashaka, appearing on the weekly Urban TV morning talk-show, Press Wall. (All Photos by Jimmy Outa)

A Will is a legal document where a person sets out wishes that are to take effect upon their death. 

Dr Maggie said the Will also came in handy when entrepreneur James Mulwana died on January 15, 2013. 

“Mr Mulwana passed away and left a company that encompasses the family and they are all shareholders,” she said. 

She was reacting to President Yoweri Museveni’s remarks that Ugandans have embraced the backward way of dividing wealth after the head of a family who made it has died, which is posing a big danger to the development of the country. 

The President was speaking during the recently held International Women’s Day celebrations at Sanga town council Playground in Kiruhura district under the theme: Equal Opportunities in Education, Science and Technology for Innovation and a Gender Equal Future. 

Call for a mind shift

Maggie said today’s children need a mindset shift. 

“Our young people look down on their fathers’ businesses because they are so educated. So, as soon as they inherit them, they close them and try to do their own things or waste the money they have got in selling off the businesses on having fun. 

But your father was running this shop or farm and it was already profitable because he was able to educate you with the proceeds from it. So, don’t close it, however small it is. (Instead) take it over together with your siblings and be able to grow it. So you do not need to divide wealth,” she said.   

Maggie was the only girl among five siblings in the family of former civil engineer George William Blick and fashion designer Molly Johnson Blick. 

“I was loved by my parents. I was the only girl child. So, I was always treated like a god by my parents and my four brothers,” she said. 

Woman of many hats  

Dr Maggie, who is now a professor, is an investment expert, entrepreneur, farmer and feminist. She is also the ambassador of the Africa Scout Foundation and chairperson of the Makerere Endowment Fund. 

She said she manages to do the “juggling” because of her sporting background which made her stronger and the knowledge she acquired at Uganda Manufacturers Association and the UIA. 

“For me, it’s knowledge. If I know about something… and I was privileged to work for 11 years at UIA, where we have investors in every sector. So, you have to know about agricultural, tourism, mining and other sectors. So, whereas you may have to go and learn, I don’t have to because I already know. So knowledge is power,” she said. 

She also said she is invited to sit on various boards because they think she can add value.