Fort Portal, Uganda – When King Oyo Nyimba Kabamba Iguru Rukidi IV of Tooro was buried on September 12, the ceremony unfolded below the shadow of a bitter dispute over who ought to succeed him.
Prince Edward Rukidi Kijanangoma, a 56-year-old information anchor and editor at Uganda Broadcasting Company, had been chosen by the royal clan to succeed Oyo. In the course of the burial on the Karambi Royal Tombs in Fort Portal, he formally assumed energy by casting 9 espresso berries into the king’s grave, a part of the standard handover ritual.
However the succession stays contested.
Oyo’s mom, Queen Mom Greatest Kemigisa, and his sister, Princess Ruth Komuntale, have opposed Kijanangoma’s choice, saying the late king’s will named a son as his inheritor.
Oyo by no means married and was not publicly recognized to have kids. After his demise, Tooro’s Prime Minister Calvin Armstrong Rwomiire Akiiki introduced that the king had left a son whose identification could be revealed at an applicable time. The kid has not been publicly recognized.
Oyo’s household says a 2022 will named a son whom he described as his lawfully recognised organic son as inheritor to the throne. However Babiito clan elders, who’re accountable for guarding the Tooro royal lineage, figuring out succession and safeguarding the dominion’s traditions, say Oyo had not launched the kid by means of the customary course of and as an alternative backed Kijanangoma as his successor.
“The need is just not a determinant of who is meant to be a king; it’s a doc that expresses one’s want,” mentioned Reverend Father Charles Oyo, a Babiito clan elder. “The Musuuga [Babiito clan leader] is above the desire.”
Princess Komuntale has accused the elders of attempting to take over the throne.
“King Oyo was a really peaceable man, a really humble man,” she mentioned. “I simply don’t need these evil vultures to come back and steal what he labored so arduous for. I proceed to face with my brother.”
The dispute has divided opinion over who ought to be thought to be Oyo’s legit successor. The Ugandan authorities additionally turned concerned in talks aimed toward resolving the dispute earlier than the burial.
The kid king
Oyo’s personal path to the throne started when he was simply three years previous.
He turned king in 1995 after the demise of his father, Patrick David Matthew Kaboyo Olimi III, and was recognised because the world’s youngest reigning monarch.
As a toddler, Oyo was homeschooled, with the palace serving as his classroom. When he later joined major faculty, childhood mates bear in mind him as a sort and heat individual.
Throughout faculty holidays, he generally sneaked out of the household’s personal residence in Buziga, Kampala, to play soccer within the neighbourhood.
Martin Odong, a radio journalist and childhood buddy, remembers him as “pleasant, social and compassionate”.
Oyo would cease soccer video games to examine on an injured participant, no matter which facet they have been enjoying for, Odong mentioned.
His love of soccer continued into maturity. He promoted native tournaments, together with the Tooro Kingdom MTN Masaza Cup, which was suspended as his well being deteriorated.
Oyo died on August 27, aged 34, in the USA whereas receiving most cancers remedy. His physique was returned to Uganda for 9 days of mourning earlier than his burial on the Karambi Royal Tombs, which coincided with Empango, the anniversary of his coronation.
At St John’s Cathedral, Queen Mom Greatest Kemigisa remembered her son as somebody who had at all times protected her.
“He was my protect who at all times stood for me,” she mentioned.
She recalled praying for his life when she was in hospital.
“After I was within the hospital, I mentioned, ‘God, please depart my son alone; take me first,’” she mentioned. “He [God] determined to take him [King Oyo] first. I mentioned, ‘Why? As a result of he was nearer to You than me.’”
Princess Komuntale described her brother as a “humorous individual” who “at all times brightened my day”.
Though he was youthful than her, she mentioned, he usually behaved just like the older sibling and guarded her and their mom after their father “left to be with the Lord”.
Father Charles Oyo remembered him as a “good-looking king who beloved his kingdom a lot”.
He mentioned Oyo died simply as he was “starting to reveal his skills and capability as a king”.
A king with out political energy
Uganda is a constitutional republic, and its conventional kings haven’t any formal political authority. However the kingdoms retain cultural affect and command loyalty amongst lots of their communities.
Uganda abolished its conventional kingdoms in 1967. They have been restored in 1993 below President Yoweri Museveni.
Oyo was guided by regents whereas he was a toddler and took on the total tasks of the monarchy as an grownup.
His uncommon place meant he met presidents, royalty and different world leaders from a younger age. Amongst them was former South African President Nelson Mandela, who reportedly needed to fulfill the younger king throughout a go to to Uganda. Oyo, nonetheless, was extra considering enjoying together with his toys behind the VIP tent.
As an grownup, he used the platform of the throne to advertise points past the dominion.
In 2020, he climbed the Rwenzori Mountains to attract consideration to local weather change and the retreat of the glaciers there.
He additionally supported a marketing campaign to plant 10 million bushes throughout Tooro over 5 years.
He promoted wholesome dwelling and took half in most cancers consciousness runs. Komuntale referred to as him her “finest exercise accomplice”.
Earlier than his demise, Oyo had allotted land and begun fundraising for a paediatric hospital in Kyenjojo district. Clan elders have since appealed to the federal government to finish the venture and set up a specialised most cancers facility and a world stadium in his reminiscence.
His ultimate months
Oyo’s sickness was saved largely personal.
In accordance with his sister, he started experiencing ache in his again and rib cage final 12 months. The household initially thought it may be linked to strenuous train or ulcers.
He later travelled to Kenya, the place he was identified with angiosarcoma, an aggressive type of most cancers, earlier than travelling to Germany for remedy and finally to the US.
“He instructed us to maintain it personal, and we revered that,” Komuntale mentioned.
She mentioned that shortly earlier than his demise, Oyo spoke to key staff in Uganda about returning house. He needed to have fun Empango, the anniversary of his coronation, together with his individuals.
He by no means made it house.
For Komuntale, the king remained her youthful brother even after he turned one among Africa’s most recognisable conventional rulers.
She remembered enjoying dodgeball with him and his love for his three canines.
“Regardless that you have been topped a king, you have been nonetheless a child who beloved to play,” she mentioned.
“I’ll maintain your legacy, what you liked, and we’ll discuss you every single day.”
