A bitter succession dispute has erupted in the Tooro Kingdom, one of Uganda’s traditional realms, just days before the burial of its late king, who was the world’s youngest reigning monarch.
King Oyo Nyimba Kabamba Iguru Rukidi IV ruled the kingdom for more than thirty years. He died at 34 after cancer treatment in the United States. Royal elders named Prince Edward Rukidi Kijanangoma, 56, a popular TV news presenter for Uganda Broadcasting Corporation, as the next monarch, but the decision faced immediate opposition from the king’s close relatives.
Princess Ruth Komuntale, Oyo’s sister, says the king left a 2022 will naming his son—whose identity has been kept private—as his heir. She insists that the will must be respected.
The family’s rejection led to a press conference where the royal clan’s succession committee defended their choice, citing due diligence and tradition. Yet, the committee’s pick has caused unrest, prompting the withdrawal of royal guards and deployment of soldiers, creating a tense “house arrest” for the royal household.
In a dramatic display of grief, Queen Best Kemigisa, the late king’s mother, appealed to President Yoweri Museveni and the army to allow the family to bury Oyo peacefully. Thousands of mourners are expected to attend the ceremony at the royal tombs near Fort Portal in western Uganda.
