Uganda’s King Oyo buried amid calls for unity over his successor

Uganda's King Oyo Nyimba Kabamba Iguru Rukidi IV, once the youngest reigning monarch in the world, was laid to rest on Saturday following a disagreement over his successor. The 34-year-old had been ruling the Tooro kingdom in western Uganda since he was just three years old. Oyo passed away last month while receiving cancer treatment in the United States.

The Tooro kingdom, one of Uganda's traditional territories that were abolished in 1967 but restored under President Museveni in the 1990s, is recognized as a cultural leader rather than a political one. Thousands of mourners lined the streets as Oyo's casket was moved to Fort Portal, where a private ceremony took place among his royal family.

Oyo was named king at a young age and set the record for being the world's youngest monarch at the time. Upon his death, TV presenter Prince Edward Rukidi Kijanangoma was named the new monarch by clan elders. However, a few days earlier, Oyo's family had rejected Kijanangoma, his cousin, as the new king. Oyo's sister, Princess Ruth Komuntale, revealed that the late king had left a will naming his young son as his successor, though the boy's identity remains undisclosed.

Adding to the confusion, Queen Best Kemigisa, Oyo's mother, stated that royal guards had been removed from the palace, replaced with soldiers. This move reportedly restricted the royal family's freedom to receive visitors and described it as "house arrest." In a bid for unity, Archbishop Stephen Kazimba Mugalu of the Church of Uganda addressed the gathering, urging mourners to avoid causing pain, division, or conflict through their words, as they risk damaging Oyo's legacy.

Uganda's President Yoweri Museveni also called for resolution to the succession issue, emphasizing that unity should prevail over division. The clan responsible for the succession defended their choice of Kijanangoma, explaining that they adhered to the cultural and traditional practices of the Tooro kingdom. They urged everyone to preserve peace and serenity amid the ongoing situation.