The death and impending burial of Omukama Oyo Nyimba Kabamba Iguru Rukidi IV have plunged Tooro Kingdom into an increasingly bitter succession dispute, with rival royal actors disagreeing over who has the legitimate authority to determine the next king.
The crisis has intensified only two days before the burial of King Oyo, scheduled for Saturday, September 12, after the Tooro Succession Royal Committee announced Prince Edward Kijanangoma Rukidi as the next Omukama.
The announcement has triggered questions from sections of the Batooro, who argue that the late king’s reported wishes, contained in his will, should have been considered before any successor was selected.
At the centre of the controversy are the Queen Mother, Best Kemigisa; Omusuuga Charles Akiiki Kamurasi; Rev. Fr Charles Oyo Amooti, who has been involved in explaining the succession process; veteran faded journalist Andrew Mwenda, who publicly announced an earlier selection; and retired Lt Gen Henry Tumukunde, who has urged caution until appropriate guidance is obtained.
The latest development has also placed Prince Rukidi Kijanangoma in an uncomfortable position after a statement attributed to him indicated that he did not want to ascend the throne, at least at this stage.
Succession Announcement Sparks Controversy
A letter signed by Omusuuga Charles Kamurasi confirmed the selection of Prince Edward Kijanangoma Rukidi as the preferred successor.
However, the announcement has been challenged by people who question the timing of the decision, arguing that King Oyo’s body is yet to be laid to rest.
The dispute comes barely two weeks after Oyo died on August 26 following a long illness.
Lt Gen (Rtd) Henry Tumukunde has cautioned against rushing the process, saying succession matters should be handled in accordance with the law and the cultural institution’s established procedures.
“Tooro Kingdom succession matters will be communicated to you when we’ve got appropriate guidance from the President of Uganda and, of course, the cultural institution of the Batooro, following the Institution of Traditional or Cultural Leaders Act, 2011,” Tumukunde said.
His intervention has added another layer to the controversy, with questions emerging over the relationship between the Babiito clan’s traditional authority, the cultural institution and the Government.
What Does Oyo’s Will Say?
One of the most contentious issues is the reported existence of a will written by King Oyo in September 2022.
According to people familiar with the document, the late king contemplated a situation in which his son could, for one reason or another, be unable to assume the throne.
The will reportedly identifies Prince Komwiswa Yoweri as the next option, followed by Prince Nyaika Solomon.
This has led some Batooro to question why the Succession Committee considered candidates who were not listed in the order provided in the will.
Former Kampala Deputy Lord Mayor, Doreen Nyanjura is among those who have questioned the decision.
“Why was the will left behind by King Oyo ignored?” she asked, arguing that the document provided guidance on succession.
Other Batooro have similarly demanded that the will be fully examined before any final decision is made. They contend that the issue of succession should not become a contest of personalities or public statements, but should be resolved through the kingdom’s customs, legal framework and the wishes of the late king.
The Mystery Of Oyo’s Alleged Son
The biggest point of disagreement is the claim that King Oyo left behind a son. President Yoweri Museveni previously said he had been informed by Queen Mother Best Kemigisa that the late king had a son who could potentially become his successor.
But the succession committee, according to Mwenda’s account of its deliberations, had not previously received official information about such a child.
Mwenda said that four candidates were eventually presented to the committee. They were George Desmond Kamurasi, son of Prince Jimmy Mugenyi; a purported son of King Oyo initially identified as Jacob Oyo and later as Jackson Oyo; George David Kamurasi, son of Prince Kato Rukidi; and Edward Rukidi Kijanangoma, son of Prince Kijanangoma.
According to Mwenda, the purported son of Oyo was presented to the committee by Patrick Kawamara, a brother of the Queen Mother and a member of the committee.
Mwenda said Kawamara could not provide a photograph of the child and did not disclose the child’s mother’s family in Tooro when asked.
The committee subsequently removed the purported son from consideration, according to Mwenda.
This account has, however, become one of the most contested aspects of the succession dispute.
Critics argue that the committee should first establish the identity and status of the purported son instead of dismissing the matter.
Joshua Akandwanaho, commenting on the controversy, argued that the committee should establish who the “hypothetical son of Oyo” is because the will itself refers to such a possibility.
The debate has now shifted from merely identifying a successor to determining who has the authority to establish whether Oyo’s son exists and whether he qualifies under Tooro custom.
Fr Oyo Explains The Process
Rev. Fr Charles Oyo Amooti of the Babiito royal clan has defended the succession process that produced Prince Kijanangoma.
Explaining the procedure, Fr Oyo said the process involved several stages rather than an arbitrary appointment.
“We had nominations; after nominations, we did selections. After selections, we followed up with vetting,” he said.
His explanation is intended to demonstrate that the committee followed an established process involving nominations, scrutiny and eventual selection.
Mwenda gave a similar account, saying a general meeting of the Babiito clan was held at Karuziika Palace in Fort Portal on August 28, two days after Oyo’s death.
He said more than 100 princes and princesses attended and selected a 21-member Royal Succession Committee headed by the Omusuuga.
According to Mwenda, the committee began its work on August 31 with the task of identifying a successor.
He said that after four days of deliberations, a secret ballot was held in which George Desmond Kamurasi reportedly received 15 votes, while the other candidates received one vote each.
Mwenda said Kamurasi was informed of the decision but asked for time to consult his wife and business partners in London.
He said the committee subsequently moved to the next candidate because the kingdom was under time pressure ahead of the burial.
Rukidi Says He Does Not Want The Throne
The succession controversy took a dramatic turn after a message attributed to Prince Edward Kijanangoma Rukidi appeared on X.
The prince reportedly rejected the selection, saying he wanted the late king’s wishes respected.
“With profound humility, I respectfully decline to ascend the throne of Tooro. Out of respect for our late king and the will he expressed for our kingdom, I believe his wishes must be honoured. The throne is sacred, the will of our fallen King must remain respected,” the statement read.
He later made another appeal for privacy concerning his wife, Mrs Rebecca Kijanangoma Abwooli.
“Throughout this uncalled for chaos, I only request for one thing, PRIVACY for my dear wife, Mrs Rebecca Kijanangoma Abwooli,” he said.
The apparent rejection has created another dilemma for the kingdom because it raises questions about whether the committee’s announcement represents a final decision or merely a recommendation.
Queen Mother Challenges The Narrative
The Queen Mother has also become increasingly vocal about the succession controversy.
Her position has been interpreted by supporters as a demand that the late king’s wishes and the circumstances surrounding his reported son be properly considered before a successor is installed.
The disagreement between the Queen Mother and Mwenda has become particularly public.
Responding to the Queen Mother’s criticism, Mwenda said he had been compelled to explain his position because she described the group behind his earlier succession announcement as “self-appointed”.
“This is a gross insult to our kingdom and its cultural institutions,” Mwenda said.
He maintained that the Babiito meeting of August 28 was legitimate and that the 21-member committee emerged from that gathering.
Mwenda also rejected the suggestion that the committee had simply imposed a king.
He argued that the committee was established by members of the royal clan and followed a selection process involving several candidates.
Batooro Hit Back
But Mwenda’s explanation has not ended the controversy. A section of Batooro has accused him of injecting himself into a sensitive cultural matter at a time when the kingdom is mourning.
Martha Marty urged influential figures to remain restrained.
“There are many people even closer to the royal family that have refrained from being the voice of Kingdom affairs… because they know how much whatever little or much they share will impact the ongoing conflict,” she wrote.
She also criticised the succession announcements coming before the burial.
“Let the King be accorded some respect as his body lays cold at the palace. Some of these fights, arguments can ensue when he’s been laid to rest,” she said.
Other Batooro accused Mwenda of causing confusion by making announcements that appeared to change within days.
The strongest reactions followed Mwenda’s remarks about the traditional requirements surrounding a possible heir.
Critics said his language concerning the mother of the purported son was disrespectful and potentially damaging to the royal family.
Some argued that a child should not be judged by the marital status or background of his mother.
Others maintained that the kingdom must establish the child’s identity and whether he meets the requirements of Tooro custom before discussing succession.
A Kingdom At A Crossroads
The succession dispute now presents Tooro with a delicate balancing act.
On one side are those who argue that the Babiito clan has the traditional authority to identify a successor through its established procedures.
On the other are those insisting that King Oyo’s will, the Queen Mother’s account of his son and the constitutional and legal framework governing cultural institutions must be taken into consideration.
The timing has made the dispute even more sensitive.
Oyo’s burial is scheduled for September 12, and many Batooro are urging the royal family to first give the late king a dignified farewell before allowing the succession question to dominate the kingdom.
The crisis also comes at a time when Tooro needs unity following the death of a king who ascended the throne as a child and ruled for more than two decades.
What began as an effort to prepare for the future of the kingdom has therefore turned into a public contest over tradition, the late king’s wishes, the authority of the Babiito and the legitimacy of those making succession decisions.
For now, the identity of the next Omukama remains contested, while Prince Kijanangoma’s apparent rejection has further complicated matters.
The most immediate question is whether the Babiito and the wider Tooro cultural leadership can agree on a process that commands confidence across the kingdom.
For many Batooro, the answer may lie not in competing announcements, social-media battles or political interventions, but in a transparent examination of the late king’s will, the status of the purported heir and the customs governing the Tooro throne.
Until those questions are settled, the succession crisis is unlikely to disappear with King Oyo’s burial.
Author Profile
- Charles Gazza Kodili is a seasoned journalist with over 20 years of experience in the media industry. He holds a Bachelor of Arts degree in Mass Communication. He’s currently the Chief Editor at the Investigator.
Charles can also be reached via; Tel: +256 774 108978
Email: [email protected]
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