Key facts
- Prince Edward Rukidi Kijanangoma has been named the new monarch of Uganda's Tooro kingdom.
- The late King Oyo's family disputes this, claiming he named his young son as successor in a 2022 will.
- The late king's mother, Queen Best Kemigisa, reported restricted movement for the royal family.
- Tooro's monarch is chosen from the Babiito royal dynastic clan, not strictly by hereditary line.
- King Oyo's son has not been formally presented to the royal clan elders as per tradition.
A succession dispute has emerged in Uganda's Tooro kingdom following the death of its monarch, King Oyo. Royal clan elders announced Prince Edward Rukidi Kijanangoma, a 56-year-old TV news presenter, as the chosen successor. However, this decision has been met with strong opposition from the late king's close family.
Princess Ruth Komuntale, King Oyo's sister, stated that the late king had left a will from 2022 explicitly naming his young son as his heir. She accused those behind Kijanangoma's announcement of creating confusion during a period of grief.
Adding to the tension, Queen Best Kemigisa, the late king's mother, reported that royal guards had been withdrawn from the palace and soldiers deployed, effectively restricting the royal family's movement and their ability to receive visitors. She described the situation as "house arrest" and appealed to the army's leadership and President Yoweri Museveni to allow the family to mourn and bury King Oyo peacefully on Saturday.
The Tooro kingdom's succession process differs from hereditary monarchies; its king is chosen from the Babiito royal dynastic clan. The succession committee defended their choice of Kijanangoma, a grandson of a former king, stating they had conducted due diligence. They also noted that reports of King Oyo having a son were insufficient as the child had not been formally presented to the clan elders according to tradition, a process that involves specific ceremonies and preparations.