Thousands of mourners gathered in Fort Portal, Uganda, on Saturday to bid farewell to King Oyo Nyimba Kabamba Iguru Rukidi IV, whose death has sparked a dispute over the succession of the Tooro Kingdom.
Oyo, who ascended the throne at the age of three, died at 34 while receiving cancer treatment in the United States. He had ruled the kingdom for 31 years and was recognised by Guinness World Records as the world’s youngest reigning monarch.
His remains were taken to the Karambi Royal Tombs for burial after a funeral service at Saint John’s Cathedral in Fort Portal.
During the ceremony, Oyo’s sister, Princess Ruth Komuntale, remembered him as a joyful person who had a gift for making people laugh and lifting the spirits of those around him.
However, the late king’s death has been followed by disagreements within the royal family over who should succeed him.
The Babiito royal clan, which oversees succession matters in the kingdom, announced Prince Edward Rukidi Kijanangoma as Oyo’s successor on Wednesday. Kijanangoma is a news anchor with Uganda’s public broadcaster.
The decision has been rejected by Princess Komuntale, who accused some members of the royal establishment of acting against her and the Queen Mother.
She produced what she described as a 2022 will written by Oyo, claiming that the late king had identified a biological son as his successor. The alleged heir was not named, and his identity was not considered during the succession process.
The dispute has created tension within the Tooro royal family as questions continue over the process used to select Oyo’s successor.
Ugandan President Yoweri Museveni called for calm and unity during Saturday’s funeral, urging the Batoro to settle the succession disagreement through peaceful and lawful means.
He said the government would work with the new king once the matter was resolved, just as it had worked with Oyo during his reign.
The Babiito royal clan has defended its decision, saying the selection process followed the customs and traditions of the Tooro Kingdom.
The head of the clan, Omusuuga Charles Karumasi, appealed for peace and urged members of the kingdom to respect its traditional practices.
Uganda is a republic but officially recognises four traditional kingdoms, including Tooro. The kingdoms have limited political powers and mainly serve cultural and traditional purposes.
The succession dispute now hangs over the kingdom as members of the royal family and traditional authorities seek to determine who will formally take over from the late King Oyo.
