A succession crisis has erupted in Uganda’s traditional Kingdom of Tooro following the death of King Oyo Nyimba, after members of his family rejected the selection of a new monarch by the royal clan.
The royal clan’s succession committee on Wednesday announced Prince Edward Rukidi Kijanangoma, a television news anchor and editor with Uganda Broadcasting Corporation (UBC), as the new king. Kijanangoma is a cousin of the late King Oyo.
However, King Oyo’s mother, Queen Kemigisa, and his sister, Princess Ruth Komuntale, challenged the decision, saying the late king’s will clearly named his biological son as his heir.
King Oyo, who became the world’s youngest reigning monarch after ascending the throne at the age of three in 1995, died on August 27 at the age of 34 in the United States, where he had been receiving treatment for cancer. He is expected to be buried on Saturday.
According to a copy of the late king’s will dated September 14, 2022, Oyo directed that if he was survived by a legally recognised biological son, the child should inherit the throne.
The existence of the alleged son was revealed by Tooro’s Prime Minister, Calvin Armstrong Rwomiire Akiiki, in a social media post announcing King Oyo’s death. He said the late king had left behind a prince who would be formally identified at the appropriate time.
However, questions have been raised over the identity of the child and whether he meets the traditional requirements for succession.
Queen Kemigisa also accused a group of clan members of ignoring the late king’s will and selecting a new monarch despite having been shown the document. She further alleged that Uganda’s military removed royal guards from the palace and placed members of the royal family under house arrest.
READ ALSO:Uganda Detains 62 Nigerians Over Alleged Illegal Church Activities, Immigration Violations
The military has not immediately responded to the allegations, while members of the succession committee were also unavailable for comment.
Prime Minister Armstrong has called for calm, saying the will, traditional customs, applicable laws and proper institutions must be considered before a decision is reached.
He urged all parties to avoid confrontation and competing claims while the late king awaits burial.
