Tension and uncertainty have gripped Karuziika Royal Palace in Fort Portal as the bitter succession dispute in Tooro Kingdom took a dramatic turn after the head of the Tooro royal family, Omubiito Charles Kamurasi Kayondo, popularly known as the Omusuuga, was reportedly taken away from the palace by security personnel.
The development came shortly after a meeting between Omusuuga and the Commander of Land Forces, Lieutenant General Kayanja Muhanga, who had arrived at Karuziika amid heightened anxiety over the future leadership of the kingdom.
Witnesses at the palace said the meeting was brief and held away from the public. However, what followed immediately afterwards triggered alarm among royalists and Tooro elders who had gathered at Karuziika.
The Omusuuga was reportedly seen leaving the palace in a military Land Cruiser associated with Gen Muhanga.
According to witnesses, the vehicle moved away from the palace at high speed, with its destination not immediately known.
The development immediately fuelled speculation over the reasons behind the military intervention and whether the Omusuuga was being taken to another location for security reasons, questioning or consultations.
Elders express anger
The sudden departure of the Omusuuga angered some Tooro elders and members of the royal establishment, who questioned why the head of the royal family would be taken away from Karuziika at such a sensitive moment.
Omubiito Brian Kasangaki described the development as shocking, particularly because it happened in the middle of an already tense succession dispute.
“The Omusuuga is being taken away and what has left us shocked is that he has been taken in the military vehicle of the big brother of Andrew Mwenda, who has caused us more grief by announcing a premature king. This is the craziest moment we are witnessing here,” Kasangaki said.
His remarks reflected the deep suspicion that has emerged among sections of the Tooro royal establishment since journalist Andrew Mwenda publicly claimed that a successor to the late Omukama Oyo Nyimba Kabamba Iguru IV had been identified.
Mwenda’s announcement triggered a fierce backlash from sections of the royal family and kingdom establishment, with questions being raised over who has the constitutional, cultural and royal authority to identify and announce the next Omukama.
The controversy has since evolved into a wider dispute involving members of the royal family, kingdom officials, elders and political actors.
Where is the Omusuuga?
The whereabouts of the Omusuuga remained unclear after he left Karuziika. Sources at the palace said he had reportedly been taken by security personnel to an undisclosed location, although no official statement had been issued explaining the circumstances surrounding his departure.
The absence of clarity has heightened fears among some elders that the succession crisis could deteriorate further.
The Omusuuga occupies a significant position within the Tooro royal family and has been expected to play a central role in the cultural processes surrounding the transition following the death of King Oyo.
His sudden removal from Karuziika therefore carries enormous symbolic and political weight at a time when the kingdom is preparing for the burial of the late king and simultaneously grappling with questions about succession.
Royalists have increasingly called for calm, insisting that the succession process should be handled according to Tooro traditions and through consultations among members of the royal family.
Others have warned that continued involvement of political and security actors could further complicate an already delicate situation.
Muhanga meeting
Gen Muhanga’s meeting with the Omusuuga came against the backdrop of growing tension at Karuziika.
The Land Forces Commander is one of the senior military officers whose presence at the palace was likely to attract considerable attention because of the sensitivity surrounding the succession dispute.
After the meeting, however, neither Gen Muhanga nor the Omusuuga publicly explained what had been discussed.
The absence of an official account has left room for speculation, with elders demanding answers about why the Omusuuga was taken away and where he was being taken.
Some royalists questioned the circumstances under which a member of the royal family could leave the palace in a military vehicle without an explanation being given to the wider royal establishment.
For many of those at Karuziika, the incident was another indication of how quickly the succession dispute has moved beyond a traditional royal disagreement into a matter attracting the attention of senior government and security officials.
Tumukunde’s role
The latest development comes days after President Yoweri Museveni dispatched retired Lieutenant General Henry Tumukunde to Tooro Kingdom to help calm tensions arising from the succession dispute.
Tumukunde has reportedly been engaging different actors as part of efforts to harmonise the competing positions and prevent the disagreement from escalating.
The decision to send a senior retired military officer into the kingdom demonstrated the seriousness with which the Government was treating the situation.
The intervention came as divisions emerged over claims concerning the identity of the person who should succeed King Oyo.
The late king’s death has left Tooro facing one of the most delicate transitions in its recent history.
While preparations for the burial have continued, the succession question has increasingly overshadowed the mourning period.
Succession battle
At the centre of the dispute is the question of who has the authority to determine the next Omukama.
Sections of the royal family have rejected what they regard as attempts by individuals outside the traditional succession structures to declare a successor.
The situation became particularly tense following Mwenda’s announcement that a successor had been identified.
Some royalists accused him of moving too quickly, arguing that the royal family and elders had not completed the necessary consultations.
The controversy has since generated competing claims, public statements and meetings involving members of the royal family and political figures.
The emergence of the Omusuuga as a central figure in the dispute has further increased the significance of his reported removal from Karuziika.
Calls for restraint
As uncertainty continued to hang over the palace, elders called for restraint and transparency.
They warned that unexplained movements involving senior members of the royal family could deepen mistrust and create unnecessary confrontation.
For now, the immediate questions remain unanswered: Where was the Omusuuga taken? Why was he taken away in a military vehicle? Who authorised his removal from Karuziika? And what was discussed during his meeting with Gen Muhanga?
Until an official explanation is provided, the incident is likely to intensify anxiety within the kingdom.
The development also places renewed focus on President Museveni’s intervention through Gen Tumukunde, with many Tooro elders hoping that the mediation effort can prevent the succession dispute from spiralling into a deeper confrontation.
With the burial of King Oyo approaching, attention is now turning to whether the competing factions can find common ground and allow the kingdom to mourn its late king without further escalation.
For the people gathered at Karuziika, however, the sight of the Omusuuga leaving the palace in a military vehicle has added yet another dramatic chapter to a succession crisis that has already shaken the kingdom.
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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