Government urges calm as Tooro succession dispute deepens ahead of king oyo’s burial
CULTURE
FortPortal, Uganda | The Government of Uganda has urged calm amid a growing dispute within the Tooro Kingdom following the death of Omukama Oyo Nyimba Kabamba Iguru Rukidi IV, as preparations continue for his burial on Saturday, September 12, 2026.
The latest tensions emerged after Queen Mother Best Kemigisa accused security forces of restricting the movement of members of the royal family at the Tooro palace, describing the situation as “house arrest.”
In a statement issued on September 10, Kemigisa said troops had been deployed around the palace after royal guards were removed. She appealed to President Yoweri Kaguta Museveni and the Uganda People’s Defence Forces leadership to allow the family to mourn and bury King Oyo with dignity.
The allegations come at a time when the kingdom is facing a bitter succession dispute. A 21-member royal succession committee has announced Prince Edward Rukidi Kijanangoma, a cousin of the late king and former Uganda Broadcasting Corporation journalist, as the new monarch.
However, Oyo’s immediate family has rejected the decision, insisting that the late king left a will outlining the order of succession. The family says the will was read in the presence of members of the royal family and government representatives, including Maj Gen Henry Tumukunde, who represented President Museveni.
The succession controversy has further intensified following reports that King Oyo left behind a biological son who could have a claim to the throne. His family has argued that the late monarch’s wishes should be considered before any permanent succession decision is made.
King Oyo died on August 27, 2026, aged 34, while receiving cancer treatment in the United States. His remains were returned to Uganda on September 4 and received at Entebbe International Airport by President Museveni and other dignitaries. The government subsequently supported arrangements for his return and burial.
The burial is scheduled for September 12 at the royal tombs in Fort Portal, with national mourning and extensive preparations underway.
The government’s position, as reflected in its involvement in the funeral arrangements, is to support a peaceful and dignified farewell while working with the royal family and Tooro institutions.
The escalating succession dispute has therefore placed additional pressure on all sides to separate the question of the future leadership of the kingdom from the immediate responsibility of giving King Oyo a dignified burial.
For now, attention remains focused on Saturday’s funeral as the government, the royal family and Tooro cultural leaders face growing calls to maintain peace, respect the mourning period and avoid actions that could further divide the kingdom.
King Oyo ascended the Tooro throne in 1995 at just three years old and went on to reign for 31 years, becoming one of Uganda’s most recognised traditional leaders. His death has triggered an unprecedented succession debate at the same time the kingdom prepares to lay him to rest.
