FORT PORTAL, Uganda — A fresh dispute has erupted within the Tooro royal family over the succession to the late Omukama Oyo Nyimba Kabamba Iguru Rukiidi IV, moments after Prince Edward Rukiidi Kijanangoma was announced as the proposed next King of Tooro.
Princess Ruth Nsemere Komuntale, the late King Oyo’s sister, has rejected the announcement, saying the information that Prince Edward Kijanangoma had been chosen as the next Omukama was inaccurate.
Her remarks cast immediate doubt on the succession announcement made earlier at a press conference by the Babiito Clan Succession Committee.
The committee had announced that it had elected Prince Edward Rukiidi Kijanangoma, son of the late Prince Christopher Paul Kijanangoma and grandson of former Tooro King Omukama Sir George David Rukidi Kamurasi III, to succeed King Oyo.
Musuuga Charles Kamurasi, head of the Babiito royal clan, was present when the announcement was made.
But moments later, Princess Komuntale publicly disputed the announcement, opening a new and potentially consequential chapter in the royal succession process.
Princess Elizabeth Bagaya has also backed Komuntale’s rejection of Kijanangoma’s announcement, describing the development as a tragic moment for the royal family.
The competing positions have created uncertainty over who will eventually succeed King Oyo and whether the Babiito succession process announced earlier has the full backing of the royal family.
The dispute comes just days before King Oyo is due to be buried on Saturday at the Karambi Royal Tombs in Fort Portal City.
The late Omukama’s final send-off will begin with a national prayer service at St. John’s Cathedral, before his body is taken to the royal tombs for burial under strict Tooro cultural protocols.
The Kingdom had earlier announced that only four official speeches would be delivered during the final send-off ceremony — by Queen Mother Best Kemigisa, Princess Ruth Komuntale, Musuuga Charles Kamurasi, and the President or his representative — in order to keep the programme within the traditional early-afternoon burial schedule.
The main send-off Mass will be presided over by the Archbishop of the Church of Uganda, His Grace Stephen Kazimba Mugalu, assisted by Rt. Rev. Reuben Kisembo, Bishop of Ruwenzori Diocese.
Public viewing of King Oyo’s body is scheduled to end at 5:00 p.m. on Friday, ahead of Saturday’s burial.
The conflicting statements over the succession now place the Tooro Kingdom at a sensitive moment, with the royal family facing questions over the process for selecting and eventually enthroning King Oyo’s successor.
More details are expected as the royal family and the Babiito clan respond to the conflicting positions.
