Prince David Kijanangoma, elder brother to Prince Edward Rukidi Nyabongo, has died at Mulago National Referral Hospital after a battle with cancer.
Kijanangoma had been hospitalised at Mulago, where he was receiving treatment for the disease. His condition had reportedly deteriorated in recent days as efforts to secure specialised treatment outside the country failed to yield the funds required.
The prince reportedly needed about Shs700m to undergo specialised treatment, but efforts to mobilise the money were unsuccessful.
His death comes only days after the burial of Omukama Oyo Nyimba Kabamba Iguru Rukidi IV at the Karambi Royal Tombs in Kabarole, at a time when the Tooro Kingdom is grappling with a bitter dispute over the succession to the throne.
Kijanangoma was the elder brother of Prince Edward Rukidi Nyabongo, who has been named as the heir to the Tooro throne. However, Edward has not yet been formally installed or gazetted as the new Omukama.
The death of Kijanangoma therefore comes at a particularly sensitive moment for the royal family, which is still seeking to resolve disagreements surrounding the succession following Oyo’s death.
Cancer battle
Kijanangoma had been undergoing treatment at Mulago Hospital after being diagnosed with cancer. His illness had reportedly reached a stage where specialised treatment was considered necessary, prompting calls for financial assistance to enable him to access treatment that was not readily available locally.
The estimated cost of the treatment was put at Shs700m, a huge amount that relatives and well-wishers were unable to raise before his condition worsened.
Despite receiving treatment at Mulago, the prince died while still hospitalised.
His death is expected to trigger mourning within the Tooro royal family and among subjects who have followed the activities of the royal household over the years.
Kijanangoma belonged to a prominent royal family and was closely connected to the current succession debate through his younger brother, Edward.
Succession dispute
The prince’s death comes against the backdrop of an unresolved dispute over who should succeed the late Oyo. Oyo died in the United States on August 27, 2026, after battling aggressive cancer. He was 34.
His death plunged Tooro into mourning and immediately raised questions about the future of the kingdom and the process of identifying his successor.
The royal succession has since become contested, with different members of the royal family taking opposing positions over who should inherit the throne and how the wishes of the late king should be handled.
Prince Edward Rukidi Nyabongo has since been identified as the heir to the throne, but the process of formally installing him as Omukama has not been completed.
The dispute has involved members of the royal family, kingdom officials and government authorities, with Justice and Constitutional Affairs Minister Norbert Mao saying the Government was yet to advise President Yoweri Museveni on the matter.
Mao said his ministry and the Attorney General were still considering the legal and constitutional questions surrounding the succession.
The Attorney General has also weighed into the debate over Oyo’s will, with the legal position being that the late king’s will cannot simply be ignored and that any challenge to its authenticity or validity would have to follow the appropriate legal process. This has complicated the process of installing a successor.
Edward awaits installation
Edward, who is now mourning his elder brother, remains the person identified as heir to the Tooro throne. However, his identification as heir does not automatically mean that he has become king.
The formal installation of an Omukama is a process involving the kingdom’s cultural institutions and other relevant authorities. The current dispute has delayed the process as questions surrounding Oyo’s wishes and the succession arrangements remain unresolved.
The death of Kijanangoma could add another emotional dimension to the situation because of his close family relationship with Edward.
Kijanangoma’s death also comes at a time when the royal family is still recovering from the loss of Oyo and the controversy that surrounded his burial.
Oyo’s burial
Oyo was buried on September 12 at the Karambi Royal Tombs, where previous Tooro kings have been laid to rest.
His funeral attracted senior government officials, members of the royal family, religious leaders and thousands of mourners.
President Museveni sent a message to the funeral in which he acknowledged the succession challenges facing the kingdom and indicated that the Government would work with the new king once the outstanding issues had been resolved.
The burial was, however, overshadowed by disagreements surrounding cultural rites and the succession.
At one point, tensions reportedly emerged around the participation of members of the royal family and the handling of the late king’s body. The incidents exposed the depth of disagreements within the royal household.
The death of Kijanangoma now places the royal family in mourning once again, barely days after the burial of Oyo.
A family in mourning
For Edward, the death of his elder brother comes at a particularly difficult time.
He is mourning a close family member while simultaneously facing the uncertainty surrounding his own future as heir to the Tooro throne.
The royal family is expected to organise funeral arrangements for Kijanangoma, although details of the burial were not immediately available.
His death is likely to draw members of the royal family and Tooro subjects together in mourning, even as efforts continue to find a lasting solution to the succession dispute.
The prince’s death also highlights the difficulties faced by patients requiring expensive specialised cancer treatment.
Despite efforts to secure Shs700m for his treatment, the money could not be mobilised in time to facilitate the specialised care that had been sought.
Kijanangoma eventually died at Mulago Hospital, bringing to an end his battle with cancer.
His death leaves the Tooro royal family mourning yet another member at a moment when the institution is already under considerable pressure.
As the kingdom prepares to lay him to rest, attention will remain focused on his younger brother Edward, who has been named heir but is yet to be formally installed as Omukama.
For Tooro, the mourning of Prince David Kijanangoma comes at a time when the kingdom is still struggling to close one chapter following Oyo’s death and open another through the installation of a new king.
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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