King Oyo Nyimba Kabamba Iguru Rukidi IV, who died while undergoing cancer treatment. [AP]
King Oyo Nyimba Kabamba Iguru Rukidi IV, who died while undergoing cancer treatment. [AP]

Uganda's traditional Toro kingdom has been thrown into a succession dispute after a council of royal elders named a television news anchor as heir to the throne, prompting objections from the late king's family, who cite his will.

King Oyo Nyimba Kabamba Iguru Rukidi IV died Aug. 27 at age 34 while undergoing cancer treatment in the United States, the Guardian and Reuters reported Thursday (local time). He ascended to the throne in 1995 at age three, earning a Guinness World Record as the world's youngest reigning monarch at the time, and held the position for 31 years.

The succession committee formed by royal elders announced Sept. 9 that it had chosen King Oyo's cousin, Prince Edward Rukidi Kijanangoma, 56, as his successor. Kijanangoma is a news anchor and editor at state broadcaster UBC and shares a grandfather with the late king.

Hours after the announcement, King Oyo's sister, Princess Ruth Komuntale, held a news conference and released a copy of the king's will. The document, dated Sept. 14, 2022, states, "Should I have a son who is legally recognized as my biological son at the time of my death, I name him as heir to the throne of the Kingdom of Toro."

King Oyo was unmarried and had not been publicly known to have children. The existence of a son was first mentioned Aug. 27, when Prime Minister Calvin Armstrong Rwomushana Akiiki announced the king's death. "His Majesty leaves behind an heir, a prince, whose identity will be officially disclosed at the appropriate time in accordance with the traditions and customs of the Kingdom of Toro," he said.

The king's mother, Queen Mother Best Kemigisa Akiiki, issued a statement Thursday criticizing those she described as acting "without legitimate authority," saying they selected a new king just hours after the will had been read to them. She said officials read the will on the day of the king's death before royal family members and government officials, including a minister representing the president, and that those present had agreed to reconvene the following day to discuss succession.

"Without notice, the royal guards were withdrawn and stationed around the palace. We cannot leave freely or receive visitors," she said, describing the situation as house arrest.

The succession committee, for its part, maintains that King Oyo had no son. The 21-member committee said the elders hold the authority to select a suitable prince.

Uganda is home to several ancient kingdoms that hold no sovereign power but are revered as symbols of tradition and wield significant social influence. Toro is one of five kingdoms recognized by the government. Its monarchs hold no political authority, and political activity by them is prohibited by law.


dbsdn1110@heraldcorp.com