RismadarVoice Reporters
September 11, 2026
Ugandan authorities and royal family members are holding urgent talks to resolve a bitter succession dispute in the Tooro Kingdom ahead of the burial of late monarch King Oyo Nyimba Kabamba Iguru Rukidi IV.
The 34-year-old king, who died in late August while receiving treatment in the United States, is scheduled to be buried on Saturday, but traditional rites cannot proceed unless a successor to the throne is agreed upon.
The dispute emerged after a royal succession committee selected King Oyo’s cousin, Edward Rukidi Kijanangoma, as the next monarch, a decision that was rejected by members of the late king’s immediate family.
The late king’s mother, Queen Best Kemigisa, and sister, Princess Ruth Komuntale, have argued that Oyo’s son should succeed him, claiming the late monarch’s will indicated that his child was the rightful heir.
However, King Oyo was never married and had no publicly known children, sparking debate over the legitimacy of the reported heir.
Tooro Kingdom spokesperson Vincent Mugume said discussions were ongoing between the royal family, clan members and the Ugandan government in an effort to reach an agreement.
“Meetings are going on between the royal family and the royal clan, so all sides involved are talking,” Mugume said.
He added that the kingdom must have a new king before the burial because certain traditional ceremonies can only be performed by the successor.
The succession battle has attracted national attention because the new monarch will inherit significant royal assets, including land, property and financial benefits provided by the Ugandan government.
King Oyo became one of the world’s youngest monarchs when he was crowned in 1995 at the age of three. During his reign, he served as a cultural figure and United Nations goodwill ambassador, advocating for causes including HIV and AIDS awareness.
Meanwhile, thousands of mourners have continued to arrive in Fort Portal, the capital of the Tooro Kingdom, to pay their final respects ahead of the burial ceremony.
