Key facts
- King Oyo Nyimba Kabamba Iguru Rukidi IV of Uganda's Tooro kingdom has been buried.
- His death at 34 in the US, where he was treated for cancer, has sparked a succession battle.
- Edward Rukidi Kijanangoma, a news anchor, was chosen as the new king.
- Oyo's immediate family claimed his son should succeed him, citing his will.
- Ugandan authorities supported Kijanangoma's succession.
- The late king was a UN goodwill ambassador for HIV and Aids.
Uganda's King Oyo Nyimba Kabamba Iguru Rukidi IV, once the world's youngest monarch, has been buried in the western Ugandan kingdom of Tooro, amid a contentious succession battle. The burial took place at the Karambi Royal Tombs, 31 years to the day after his coronation. Oyo died last month at the age of 34 in the United States while receiving treatment for cancer. His death has ignited a dispute over who will succeed him, with the royal family divided. Edward Rukidi Kijanangoma, a 56-year-old news anchor and editor at state broadcaster UBC, was announced as the chosen successor by a clan committee. However, the late king's immediate family stated that his hitherto unknown son should inherit the throne, as stipulated in his will. Supporters of Kijanangoma's claim have questioned the existence of the purported son. Ugandan authorities reportedly intervened to push through Kijanangoma's succession. The Archbishop of the Church of Uganda urged for unity, warning that grief-fueled words could damage the late king's legacy. King Oyo himself ascended the throne after a protracted succession dispute that concluded in court. He was also known for his role as a UN goodwill ambassador championing the fight against HIV and Aids and had cultivated ties with former Libyan leader Muammar Gaddafi.