Royal row engulfs Ugandan kingdom after late king's family rejects TV anchor successor

A dispute has arisen within Uganda's Tooro Kingdom over the selection of a new monarch, days before the burial of their late king, who had been the world's youngest reigning monarch until his passing. King Oyo Nyimba Kabamba Iguru Rukidi IV, who ruled for over three decades, succumbed to cancer in the United States, aged just 34. The clan elders have named Prince Edward Rukidi Kijanangoma, a 56-year-old popular TV news presenter, as the successor, but this decision has been rejected by Oyo's immediate family.

Oyo's sister, Princess Ruth Komuntale, stated that their late king had left a will in 2022 naming his young son as his successor. She accused those responsible of creating "confusion and turmoil" during a time of grief. Queen Best Kemigisa, Oyo's mother, further described the situation as akin to "house arrest" after the withdrawal of royal guards and deployment of soldiers to restrict the family's movement and visitor access.

She implored the army leadership and President Yoweri Museveni to allow the family to mourn and bury Oyo peacefully on Saturday.

Thousands are expected to attend the burial at the royal tombs near the palace in Fort Portal, western Uganda, where preparations are underway. The existence of Oyo's son was first announced by President Museveni, who learned about the young boy from the queen mother. No further details have been officially disclosed, and the boy had not been previously considered Oyo's heir.

The succession dispute highlights the unique process in Tooro, where the monarch is chosen from the Babiito, the royal dynastic clan, unlike the established line of succession in Britain's monarchy. The succession committee, consisting of 19 members, selected Kijanangoma, Oyo's cousin and a news presenter at the state-run broadcaster UBC, as the new monarch.

The committee claimed they had carried out "due diligence, consultation and adequate consideration" before their decision. However, Oyo's family and other royals dispute the announcement, insisting they should follow the late king's written instructions and that a formally introduced royal child must undergo specific ceremonies before being considered for leadership.