The late Omukama Oyo Nyimba Kabamba Iguru Rukidi IV has been laid to rest at the Karambi Royal Tombs in a solemn ceremony that has brought together members of the royal family, government officials, religious leaders, cultural institutions and thousands of mourners.
The burial of King Oyo, who died aged 34 in the United States on August 27 after battling cancer, brought to an end a nine-day period of mourning that had gripped Tooro Kingdom and attracted national attention.
But even as the kingdom buried its young monarch, the question of succession moved to the centre of the proceedings, with Omusuuga Charles Kamurasi announcing that the Babiito had selected Prince Edward Rukidi Kiijanangoma as the new king.
“We have a King!” Kamurasi declared. “We have a new king, Edward Rukidi Nyabongo I.” He said the selection had been conducted in accordance with Ugandan law and Tooro culture.
“I want to inform you, the people of Tooro and Uganda at large, that we have a King. We sat down and agreed on one thing: the King is Prince Edward Rukidi Kiijanangoma. Whatever we have done, we have done within the laws of Uganda and the culture of Tooro,” he said.
The announcement came against the backdrop of disagreements among members of the royal family and cultural leaders over who should succeed Oyo.
President Yoweri Museveni, in a message delivered by Deputy Speaker of Parliament Thomas Tayebwa, urged the Batooro to resolve the succession question peacefully and through legal and cultural processes.
“When the issue of the new King of the Batooro is solved, we shall be happy to work with the King as we did with His Highness Oyo,” Museveni said.
“I appeal to the Batooro to use peaceful and legal means to resolve the Kingdom succession matter and seek maximum unity rather than division.”
The President’s message effectively placed the succession question among the key issues facing the kingdom as it begins life after Oyo.
Queen Mother’s Heartbreak
The most emotional moment of the funeral came when Queen Mother Best Kemigisa spoke about the death of her son.
Overcome with grief, Kemigisa recalled praying during Oyo’s illness that God would spare her son and take her instead. “Leave my son alone, God. Take me first. If I’m a bad person, take me,” she said.
She added: “When I was in that hospital, I asked God to take me first, but God did otherwise. Maybe Oyo was too good and God decided to take him back to himself.”
The Queen Mother also addressed the relationships within the royal family at a time when disagreements over succession have become public.
“I would like to thank the Omusuuga. He loved the King so much. The Babito may fight over the crown and the throne, but deep down, they also have love for one another,” she said.
Kemigisa also explained why some senior kingdom officials were not aware of the severity of Oyo’s illness.
She said the King had personally wanted his medical condition kept private and had instructed the Prime Minister, Omuhikirwa Calvin Armstrong Rwomiire Akiiki, to tell the kingdom that he was in the United States on a working and study visit.
“It is also true that the Omuhikirwa was not aware of the King’s medical condition. The King wished to maintain his medical condition private and had personally directed the Omuhikirwa to inform the Kingdom that he was on a working visit to the U.S. and was also studying,” Kemigisa said.
Her remarks shed new light on the circumstances surrounding the King’s illness, which remained largely unknown to the public until his condition deteriorated.
Cancer Diagnosis
Princess Royal Ruth Nsemere Komuntale gave mourners an insight into Oyo’s final months, revealing that he had spent more than a year seeking medical attention in Uganda for different pains before receiving the correct diagnosis.
“Before his cancer diagnosis, he had spent more than a year seeking medical evaluations in Uganda for the different pains he was experiencing. Sadly, he was not receiving the correct diagnosis then,” she said.
Komuntale said that by the time doctors carried out advanced medical examinations and established that Oyo had cancer, the disease had already spread considerably.
“By the time he received advanced medical evaluations and the correct diagnosis, the cancer had already spread significantly and was affecting multiple organs. When this news was shared with us, my brother cautioned us not to tell anyone,” she said.
Beyond the throne, Komuntale remembered Oyo as a quiet, reserved and deeply religious person.
“Beyond the crown, I remember my brother as a God-fearing, quiet and reserved man. But once he began speaking, he could tell story after story, often reminiscing about the good old days,” she said.
She described the late monarch as a man whose public personality concealed a warm and reflective character.
Oyo had also undergone military training at the Special Forces Command Sera Kasenyi Training School. Although he reportedly developed a strong interest in military service, he later declined an opportunity to undertake further military training at the Royal Military Academy Sandhurst.
Kazimba’s Message Of Unity
At St John’s Cathedral, where the national send-off service was held, the Archbishop of the Church of Uganda, Stephen Kaziimba Mugalu, urged Tooro to turn its grief into an opportunity for unity.
Mugalu compared Oyo’s reign to that of King Hosea, who ascended the Tooro throne at the age of eight and ruled for 31 years.
He said both monarchs took the throne at a young age and died young, urging the people of Tooro to learn from how grief united their predecessors.
“We have lost a King who had many visions for the Kingdom. He was young, and only God knows why He chose to take him. This is a great loss. I pray that you remain united and draw comfort from God. Let grief unite, not divide you,” Mugalu said.
The Archbishop cautioned mourners and leaders against inflammatory statements during the sensitive period.
“Be careful with your words during this morning of grief, because words can destroy the dignity and respect of the late King. Moments like this can breed hatred and division. Let our grief bring us together as we mourn and begin a new chapter for the Kingdom,” he said.
Mugalu said Oyo’s vision extended beyond the traditional institution, highlighting tourism, environmental protection and poverty eradication.
“The land of Tooro is a beautiful place. Let’s promote tourism,” he said. He also announced plans to distribute 20,000 tree seedlings to people to plant in memory of Oyo.
In addition, he said 90 acres of land had been identified by Rwenzori Diocese to preserve the late King’s environmental legacy and initiatives.
The Archbishop urged Ugandans to honour Oyo by continuing the causes he supported, including environmental conservation, youth development and the fight against HIV.
He jokingly noted Oyo’s love for Arsenal, urging his admirers to remember him by supporting some of the things he loved.
The Final Journey
Following the service at St John’s Cathedral, the King’s body began its final journey to the Karambi Royal Tombs, about six kilometres away.
The procession proceeded towards the royal burial grounds, where access was restricted as the sacred rites were performed.
Only an authorised group was allowed into the tomb area while other mourners remained outside. According to the traditional burial sequence, the Omusuuna, the chief priest and head of the ritualists, called out to the Katikiro of Gasani, the keeper of the royal tombs.
The call was made nine times before permission was granted for the body to enter.
Nine men then carried the coffin into the sacred grounds. Inside the tomb, the Rwabaisanja prepared the royal grave, known as the iziba.
The grave was lined with nine cow skins and nine bark cloths. Nine spears were also placed in the tomb alongside the coffin.
Traditional rites did not involve soil, flowers or ropes in the manner of an ordinary burial.
The heir selected by the Babiito was then brought forward. The Omusuuna handed him nine coffee beans, which he placed one by one into the grave.
According to the tradition described at the burial, the act signifies the selection of a new Omukama.
The new King-in-waiting was subsequently handed over to his maternal uncle, who took him away to a private location for protection ahead of the enthronement.
The Babiito clan, under Omusuuga Kamurasi, presided over the traditional sequence.
‘We Have A King’
It was against this backdrop that Kamurasi publicly confirmed the selection of Prince Edward Rukidi Kiijanangoma.
His declaration gave the burial a historic dimension: Tooro was not only saying farewell to Oyo but also beginning the process of identifying the monarch who would follow him.
The succession, however, remains a sensitive matter, with differing views having emerged among some members of the royal family and other cultural figures.
Museveni’s message called for the issue to be handled peacefully and legally.
The President also praised Oyo’s contribution to the country and kingdom and expressed his willingness to work with the next monarch once the succession matter is resolved.
A King Who Captured Hearts
Among those paying tribute to Oyo was veteran journalist Charles Onyango-Obbo, who reflected on the unusual popularity the late monarch enjoyed beyond the boundaries of Tooro.
He noted that despite ruling a relatively small kingdom, Oyo occupied a much larger place in the hearts of many Ugandans.
Oyo’s appeal, he argued, came partly from his quiet personality and the absence of the political drama often associated with powerful public figures.
Agriculture Minister Frank Tumwebaze also mourned the King, describing him as a monarch who worked for the public good and highlighting his interest in youth, tourism and environmental conservation.
Meanwhile, controversial veteran journalist Andrew Mwenda attended the final prayers at St John’s Cathedral amid a public dispute with members of the royal family.
His presence attracted attention because of his recent public exchanges with some members of the royal household during the mourning period.
Mwenda had made controversial claims about the late monarch and the royal family, drawing criticism from supporters of the kingdom.
His attendance nevertheless underscored the national interest surrounding Oyo’s death.
Several national leaders attended the final prayers and burial, including Tayebwa, NRM secretary-general Richard Todwong, Third Deputy Prime Minister Lukia Isanga Nakadama, Gen Edward Katumba Wamala, Balaam Barugahara and Gen Jim Muhwezi.
New Chapter
As the final rites were completed at Karambi, the mood among mourners shifted from grief to uncertainty over what comes next.
Oyo’s death closes a remarkable chapter that began when he ascended the throne as a child and grew into one of Uganda’s most recognisable cultural leaders.
His supporters remember him for his quiet disposition, interest in development and commitment to the environment, tourism and young people.
But the burial has also exposed the difficult question of succession.
Omusuuga Kamurasi’s declaration that Prince Edward Rukidi Kiijanangoma has been selected as the new King now places Tooro at the beginning of another chapter.
Whether the announcement ends the succession dispute will depend on how the royal family, Babiito clan, kingdom institutions and other stakeholders respond.
For now, the message from the President and the Archbishop is clear: the kingdom must seek unity.
As Oyo was lowered into the royal tombs, Tooro mourned the passing of a young King whose reign began in childhood and ended unexpectedly at 34.
The next chapter will be defined not only by who succeeds him, but by whether the kingdom can preserve the unity and dignity that mourners called for during his final farewell.
Author Profile
- Mr. Stephen Kasozi Muwambi is a seasoned crime investigative writer, majoring in judicial-based stories. His two decades’ experience as a senior investigative journalist has made him one of the best to reckon on in Uganda. He can also be reached via [email protected]
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