Politics 1 September 2026 Daily Monitor (Uganda)
Bunyoro Prince Backs Tooro's Musuuga in Succession Process
The Chief Prince of Bunyoro-Kitara Kingdom, Fred Mugenyi Rukyunya, has endorsed Musuuga Charles Kamurasi as the key figure to guide Tooro Kingdom through the succession process following the recent death of King Oyo. Source: https://www.monitor.co.ug/uganda/news/national/bunyoro-chief-prince-backs-tooro-musuuga-in-king-oyo-succession-process-5579386
Bunyoro-Kitara Kingdom’s Chief Prince, Okwiri Fred Mugenyi Rukyunya, has publicly supported Musuuga Charles Kamurasi, asserting that Kamurasi holds the central role in navigating Tooro Kingdom’s transition after the passing of King Oyo.
Prince Rukyunya, who also leads the Babiito royal clan members in Bunyoro, emphasized that in the absence of a reigning monarch, the responsibility for the kingdom’s continuity falls upon the Musuuga. This includes overseeing the identification and eventual enthronement of a new king.
Speaking during a delegation visit to Karuziika Palace in Fort Portal to mourn King Oyo, Rukyunya urged the Batooro and the broader Babiito royal family to respect the Musuuga’s authority during this sensitive period. He cautioned against allowing divisions to arise from competing succession interests, stating that ultimately, only one king will emerge.
“His word, I don’t want any person to despise it because he is the one who is now the head of the Kingdom,” Prince Rukyunya stated, adding that all subjects should rally behind whoever is ultimately named king, as announced by the Musuuga.
He stressed the importance of peace and unity within Tooro Kingdom during its mourning period, warning that disagreements over succession could weaken the institution. The Bunyoro delegation presented nine cows to support the mourning activities.
Musuuga Charles Kamurasi, head of Tooro’s Babiito royal clan, acknowledged the deep historical and cultural ties between Tooro and Bunyoro, referring to the kingdoms as “twins” that share the Babiito royal heritage. He thanked the Bunyoro delegation for their solidarity and echoed the call for unity, referencing the late King Oyo’s father’s advice to “Be strong.”
Meanwhile, tensions have surfaced regarding the handling of succession matters, highlighted by the cancellation of a Tooro Kingdom Supreme Council meeting. Some members, like Moses Musinguzi, have criticized the Prime Minister’s intervention, arguing that succession is a cultural affair that should be led by the Musuuga and cultural authorities, not administrative ones.