A succession dispute has emerged in Uganda’s Tooro Kingdom following the death of King Oyo Nyimba, after the royal clan announced a new monarch just days before the late king’s burial.
The kingdom’s royal clan succession committee announced on Wednesday that Prince Edward Rukidi Kijanangoma had been selected as the new king.
Kijanangoma, a member of the royal family, is also a television news anchor and editor at Uganda Broadcasting Corporation, the country’s state broadcaster.
However, Queen Mother Best Kemigisa, the mother of the late King Oyo, has rejected the announcement, arguing that it does not follow her son’s wishes as contained in his will.
In a statement issued on Thursday, September 10, Kemigisa said Oyo’s will was read on the day of his death in the presence of members of the royal family and government representatives, including a minister representing President Yoweri Museveni.
She said those present agreed to meet the following day to discuss the succession arrangements.
According to the Queen Mother, some members of the royal clan instead organised a press conference later that same evening and announced a successor while Oyo’s body was still at the palace.
Kemigisa also alleged that security forces had been deployed around the palace and that members of the royal family were being restricted from leaving freely or receiving visitors.
She appealed to the Ugandan government and military authorities to allow the family to mourn and proceed with the burial of King Oyo peacefully.
The Queen Mother did not publicly disclose the identity of the person she said had been named as successor in Oyo’s will.
King Oyo’s Earlier Succession Battle
King Oyo died on August 27 in the United States, where he had reportedly been undergoing treatment for cancer. He was 34.
Kemigisa said the royal family had faced another succession dispute when Oyo became king at just three years old in 1995.
According to her account, some members of the royal clan believed he was too young to rule and supported the idea of his uncle taking the throne. The matter eventually went to court, where Oyo retained his position.
Oyo went on to reign for 31 years. Guinness World Records recognised him as the world’s youngest reigning monarch when he ascended the throne at the age of three.
During his reign, he also served as a United Nations goodwill ambassador and participated in campaigns focused on HIV and AIDS awareness.
Burial Plans Continue
The Tooro Kingdom is one of Uganda’s traditional monarchies. While traditional kingdoms no longer exercise constitutional political authority, they continue to hold significant cultural and social importance.
Preparations are ongoing for King Oyo’s burial at the royal tombs near his palace in Fort Portal.
Kemigisa acknowledged President Museveni’s assistance in bringing Oyo’s remains back to Uganda and said government forces had also been involved in preparing the royal grave and roads leading to the burial site.
However, she criticised the timing of the succession announcement and called on those involved to allow the royal family to mourn before addressing the leadership dispute.
“Let us grieve and bury my son King Oyo,” the Queen Mother said in her appeal.
