Tooro PM Calls for Unity Amidst Succession Dispute Ahead of King Oyo's Burial

As Tooro Kingdom grapples with the grief of losing King Oyo Nyimba Kabamba Iguru Rukidi IV, Prime Minister Calvin Armstrong Rwomiire has issued a plea for unity and calm. The kingdom faces a challenging period, with a dispute emerging over the royal succession, even as preparations for the late king’s burial are underway.

King Oyo, aged 34, passed away in the United States on August 27, 2026, after battling aggressive cancer. His remains were returned to Uganda on September 4 and are set to be interred at the Karambi Royal Tombs on September 12, a date that would have marked the 31st anniversary of his coronation.

The succession has become a point of contention, with the Babiito royal clan announcing Prince Edward Rukidi Kijanangoma as the new Omukama. However, this decision has been challenged by members of Oyo’s immediate family, with Princess Ruth Komuntale asserting that the late king designated an heir in his will.

Prime Minister Rwomiire emphasized that the current disagreements should not overshadow the mourning and burial of King Oyo, whose 31-year reign has left a significant mark on the kingdom. He stressed that there will be ample time after the burial to examine the late king’s will, consider the various viewpoints, and consult Tooro’s customs, applicable laws, and relevant institutions.

“Let us first bury our King,” Rwomiire urged, adding that the Crown of Tooro has endured through generations and will continue to do so. He cautioned against competing announcements and confrontation, advocating for a calm and credible process to resolve the succession question.

The Prime Minister also appealed to the Ugandan government for assistance in maintaining peace and order during this sensitive period. However, he clarified that this support should not extend to government involvement in choosing Tooro’s next king, but rather in creating an environment conducive to peaceful cultural, legal, and institutional processes.

Rwomiire called on all Batooro and other stakeholders to lower the emotional temperature, stating, “We can disagree without destroying one another.” He urged leaders and the public to prioritize the dignity of the late king and the unity of the kingdom above personal positions.

“History will remember not only how the succession question was resolved, but also how we behaved when our King died,” he remarked. The Prime Minister concluded by calling for the kingdom’s interests to remain paramount in all decisions, stating, “In whatever we do, Tooro must come first.”

This information was originally reported by Nile Post.