Tooro Kingdom Prime Minister Omuhikirwa Calvin Armstrong Rwomiire Akiiki has called for calm amid the growing succession dispute following the death of King Oyo Nyimba Kabamba Iguru Rukidi IV.
Rwomiire urged all parties involved to first allow the kingdom to bury the late Omukama before engaging in further discussions about who should inherit the Tooro throne.
The Prime Minister said the kingdom was going through one of its most difficult moments, with disagreements emerging before King Oyo had received his final farewell.
“His Majesty Omukama Oyo Nyimba Kabamba Iguru Rukidi IV has passed away, and even before we have laid our King to rest, sharply differing positions have emerged regarding succession,” Rwomiire said.
His remarks come after competing claims emerged over the next leader of Tooro, with one group announcing a successor while others insist that the late King’s wishes must first be considered.
Rwomiire acknowledged that the late King’s will contains his expressed wishes regarding succession, saying the matter requires careful examination.
He questioned whether it was appropriate for the succession debate to continue while the kingdom was still mourning and preparing to bury King Oyo.
The Prime Minister said the timing of the dispute risked taking attention away from honouring the late monarch, whose reign lasted more than three decades.
“Let us first bury our King,” Rwomiire appealed, saying the dignity of King Oyo’s final journey should come before any competition for the throne.
He warned that the institution of the Tooro Kingdom is bigger than individuals and should not be weakened by disagreements among leaders and stakeholders.
According to Rwomiire, the succession question should be handled after burial through a process involving Tooro customs, legal considerations and recognised cultural institutions.
He said there was enough time to examine the late King’s will, listen to different views and allow the proper procedures to determine the next Omukama.
The Prime Minister also addressed the government of President Yoweri Museveni, asking it to support peace and order but avoid deciding who should become the next King.
“This is not a request for Government to choose a King for Tooro,” Rwomiire said.
He explained that the government’s role should be to create a peaceful environment where cultural and legal processes can take place without intimidation or disorder.
Rwomiire suggested that respected elders, cultural leaders and other credible figures could help guide the kingdom through the difficult transition.
He urged all sides involved in the succession debate to lower tensions and avoid actions that could divide the people of Tooro.
“Tooro is bigger than any one of us, and the Crown is too important to become the prize in a contest conducted in the middle of our mourning,” he said.
The Prime Minister warned that history would judge not only how the succession issue is resolved but also how leaders behave during the mourning period.
He called on all parties to put the interests of Tooro first, bury King Oyo with honour and later address the succession matter through a respectful and transparent process.
“For now, let us mourn together. Let us bury our King with honour. Then, with dignity, fairness and respect, let the truth and the proper process guide what comes next,” Rwomiire said.
