A succession dispute has erupted in Uganda’s historic Tooro Kingdom days before the burial of its late monarch, King Oyo Nyimba Kabamba Iguru Rukidi IV.
King Oyo, who ruled the kingdom for more than three decades, died last month at the age of 34 while undergoing cancer treatment in the United States. Until his death, he was widely recognised as the world’s youngest reigning monarch.
The dispute centres on who should succeed him.
Royal clan elders have selected Prince Edward Rukidi Kijanangoma, a 56 year old television news presenter, as the next Omukama, the traditional title for the king of Tooro.
However, the late king’s immediate family has rejected the decision.
Princess Ruth Komuntale, Oyo’s sister, said the late monarch left a will in 2022 naming his young son as his successor.
“My brother did leave behind an heir to the throne, and that was very clearly stated,” she said.
She accused those responsible for announcing the new monarch of creating confusion while the royal family is still mourning.
The dispute has also raised tensions around the royal palace. Queen Best Kemigisa, Oyo’s mother, said royal guards had been withdrawn and soldiers deployed around the palace, restricting the family’s movement and ability to receive visitors.
She described the situation as “house arrest” and appealed to Uganda’s military leadership and President Yoweri Museveni to allow the family to mourn and bury the late king peacefully.
“I appeal to those fighting over the throne: please, there will be time for all of that,” the queen mother said. “Let us grieve and bury my son King Oyo.”
Thousands of mourners are expected to attend Oyo’s burial at the royal tombs near the palace in Fort Portal, western Uganda. His body was returned to Uganda from the United States on Friday as preparations for the funeral continued.
Tooro is one of Uganda’s traditional kingdoms. Although its monarch does not hold formal political authority, the institution remains an important cultural force, particularly in western Uganda.
Uganda abolished its traditional kingdoms in 1967 before restoring them in the 1990s under President Museveni. Today, the monarchs are recognised as cultural leaders rather than political rulers.
A succession dispute rooted in tradition
The existence of Oyo’s son became public shortly after the king’s death, when President Museveni said he had been informed about the young boy by the queen mother.
The identity of the child has not been publicly disclosed, and he had not previously been presented to the royal clan as Oyo’s heir.
That has become central to the succession dispute.
Unlike Britain’s monarchy, where succession follows an established constitutional line, the Tooro monarchy is traditionally drawn from the Babiito royal dynastic clan.
At a press conference in Fort Portal, the kingdom’s succession committee announced Kijanangoma as the chosen monarch.
The committee said the decision followed due diligence, consultations and consideration of the candidates. Nineteen members reportedly signed the resolution.
Kijanangoma is Oyo’s cousin. He is the son of Prince Christopher Paul Kijanangoma and the grandson of former Tooro king George David Rukidi III. He is also known as a television news presenter at Uganda’s state broadcaster, UBC.
Another contender, Prince George Desmond Kamurasi, was also considered. Kamurasi, a footballer who captains and plays as goalkeeper for South East Dons in the United Kingdom, reportedly declined the offer because of other responsibilities.
The timing of the succession announcement has intensified the dispute, coming as the royal family prepares to bury Oyo.
Princess Komuntale said her brother had left strict instructions regarding his succession. She said his son was named first in line and that the will also outlined alternatives if the young heir could not assume the throne.
Her position has received support from her aunt, senior royal Princess Elizabeth Bagaaya.
Clan representatives, however, have argued that reports about Oyo having a son are not enough to establish the child’s claim under Tooro custom.
A member of the succession committee told Uganda’s NTV that a royal child must be formally introduced to the elders before being considered for future leadership. Such a process would also involve ceremonies and other preparations prescribed by Tooro tradition.
The disagreement therefore goes beyond competing claims to the throne. It highlights the tension that can emerge when written wishes, royal family decisions and traditional succession practices intersect.
