Uganda buries one-time ‘boy king’ whose death has sparked a succession battle

Uganda's King Oyo Nyimba, the world's youngest monarch, was laid to rest on Saturday amid a contentious succession dispute tearing apart his royal family and stirring national unrest. The traditional ruler, who took the throne of Uganda's Tooro Kingdom as a baby in 1995, passed away last month from cancer at the age of 34. He was buried alongside his ancestors in a somber funeral service at an Anglican cathedral in Fort Portal, Uganda, in the remote region bordering the Congo. The nine-day mourning period concluded with the emotionally charged event.

King Oyo, who never married, was never known to have designated an heir, leading to disagreements among members of the ruling Babiito clan. While some assert he left behind an out-of-wedlock son, no public identification of the child has been made, sparking rumors and speculation on social media regarding multiple potential heirs.

A committee of Tooro elders recently declared that a journalist working as a prince would succeed Oyo, earning the support of traditionalists who favor an adult on the throne, but disapproval from Oyo's closest relatives. Oyo's sister, Ruth Komuntale, accused the announcement of sowing division and turmoil, while Queen Mother Best Kemigisa called for unity, urging mourners to focus on grieving and burying their son King Oyo.

Once crowned at the age of three after his father's death, King Oyo was a charismatic figure adorned in colorful robes, captivating thousands of followers. At his coronation, he participated in a series of tribal rituals and was guided to his father's tomb for a coming-of-age ceremony that involved tossing nine coffee beans into the grave.

The question of who should succeed him remains unresolved, and the matter could potentially be taken to court after his family claims he left behind a will that was disregarded by Tooro elders.