Fort Portal, Uganda – When King Oyo Nyimba Kabamba Iguru Rukidi IV of Tooro was buried on September 12, the ceremony unfolded beneath the shadow of a bitter dispute over who ought to succeed him.
Prince Edward Rukidi Kijanangoma, a 56-year-old information anchor and editor at Uganda Broadcasting Company, had been chosen by the royal clan to succeed Oyo. Throughout the burial on the Karambi Royal Tombs in Fort Portal, he formally assumed energy by casting 9 espresso berries into the king’s grave, a part of the normal handover ritual.
However the succession stays contested.
Oyo’s mom, Queen Mom Greatest Kemigisa, and his sister, Princess Ruth Komuntale, have opposed Kijanangoma’s choice, saying the late king’s will named a son as his inheritor.
Oyo by no means married and was not publicly identified to have youngsters. After his dying, Tooro’s Prime Minister Calvin Armstrong Rwomiire Akiiki introduced that the king had left a son whose id can be revealed at an acceptable time. The kid has not been publicly recognized.
Oyo’s household says a 2022 will named a son whom he described as his lawfully recognised organic son as inheritor to the throne. However Babiito clan elders, who’re liable for guarding the Tooro royal lineage, figuring out succession and safeguarding the dominion’s traditions, say Oyo had not launched the kid by means of the customary course of and as an alternative backed Kijanangoma as his successor.
“The need is just not a determinant of who is meant to be a king; it’s a doc that expresses one’s want,” stated Reverend Father Charles Oyo, a Babiito clan elder. “The Musuuga [Babiito clan leader] is above the need.”
![TOPSHOT - Members of the public react as the body of the late King Oyo Nyimba Kabamba Iguru Rukidi IV makes its way to Karambi Royal Tombs for burial in Fort Portal, Uganda, on September 12, 2026 [AFP]](https://www.aljazeera.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/09/afp_6aa5b63bb446-1789244987.jpg?w=770&resize=770%2C513&quality=80)
Princess Komuntale has accused the elders of making an attempt to take over the throne.
“King Oyo was a really peaceable man, a really humble man,” she stated. “I simply don’t need these evil vultures to return and steal what he labored so exhausting for. I proceed to face with my brother.”
The dispute has divided opinion over who must be considered Oyo’s professional successor. The Ugandan authorities additionally grew to become concerned in talks aimed toward resolving the dispute earlier than the burial.
The kid king
Oyo’s personal path to the throne started when he was simply three years outdated.
He grew to become king in 1995 after the dying of his father, Patrick David Matthew Kaboyo Olimi III, and was recognised because the world’s youngest reigning monarch.
As a toddler, Oyo was homeschooled, with the palace serving as his classroom. When he later joined main college, childhood mates bear in mind him as a form and heat particular person.
Throughout college holidays, he generally sneaked out of the household’s personal residence in Buziga, Kampala, to play soccer within the neighbourhood.
Martin Odong, a radio journalist and childhood good friend, remembers him as “pleasant, social and compassionate”.
Oyo would cease soccer video games to examine on an injured participant, no matter which facet they had been enjoying for, Odong stated.
His love of soccer continued into maturity. He promoted native tournaments, together with the Tooro Kingdom MTN Masaza Cup, which was suspended as his well being deteriorated.
Oyo died on August 27, aged 34, in america whereas receiving most cancers remedy. His physique was returned to Uganda for 9 days of mourning earlier than his burial on the Karambi Royal Tombs, which coincided with Empango, the anniversary of his coronation.
At St John’s Cathedral, Queen Mom Greatest Kemigisa remembered her son as somebody who had at all times protected her.
“He was my protect who at all times stood for me,” she stated.
She recalled praying for his life when she was in hospital.
“After I was within the hospital, I stated, ‘God, please depart my son alone; take me first,’” she stated. “He [God] determined to take him [King Oyo] first. I stated, ‘Why? As a result of he was nearer to You than me.’”
Princess Komuntale described her brother as a “humorous particular person” who “at all times brightened my day”.
Though he was youthful than her, she stated, he usually behaved just like the older sibling and guarded her and their mom after their father “left to be with the Lord”.
Father Charles Oyo remembered him as a “good-looking king who cherished his kingdom a lot”.
He stated Oyo died simply as he was “starting to show his talents and capability as a king”.
A king with out political energy
Uganda is a constitutional republic, and its conventional kings don’t have any formal political authority. However the kingdoms retain cultural affect and command loyalty amongst lots of their communities.
Uganda abolished its conventional kingdoms in 1967. They had been restored in 1993 beneath President Yoweri Museveni.
Oyo was guided by regents whereas he was a toddler and took on the complete obligations of the monarchy as an grownup.
His uncommon place meant he met presidents, royalty and different world leaders from a younger age. Amongst them was former South African President Nelson Mandela, who reportedly wished to satisfy the younger king throughout a go to to Uganda. Oyo, nevertheless, was extra occupied with enjoying along with his toys behind the VIP tent.
As an grownup, he used the platform of the throne to advertise points past the dominion.
In 2020, he climbed the Rwenzori Mountains to attract consideration to local weather change and the retreat of the glaciers there.
He additionally supported a marketing campaign to plant 10 million bushes throughout Tooro over 5 years.
He promoted wholesome residing and took half in most cancers consciousness runs. Komuntale known as him her “greatest exercise companion”.
Earlier than his dying, Oyo had allotted land and begun fundraising for a paediatric hospital in Kyenjojo district. Clan elders have since appealed to the federal government to finish the mission and set up a specialised most cancers facility and a global stadium in his reminiscence.
His ultimate months
Oyo’s sickness was saved largely personal.
In accordance with his sister, he started experiencing ache in his again and rib cage final yr. The household initially thought it could be linked to strenuous train or ulcers.
He later travelled to Kenya, the place he was recognized with angiosarcoma, an aggressive type of most cancers, earlier than travelling to Germany for remedy and ultimately to the US.
“He informed us to maintain it personal, and we revered that,” Komuntale stated.
She stated that shortly earlier than his dying, Oyo spoke to key employees in Uganda about returning house. He wished to have fun Empango, the anniversary of his coronation, along with his folks.
He by no means made it house.
For Komuntale, the king remained her youthful brother even after he grew to become one in every of Africa’s most recognisable conventional rulers.
She remembered enjoying dodgeball with him and his love for his three canines.
“Although you had been topped a king, you had been nonetheless a child who cherished to play,” she stated.
“I’ll hold your legacy, what you liked, and we’ll discuss you on daily basis.”
