FORT PORTAL, UGANDA — In a statement following the funeral of the late Omukama of Tooro, King Oyo Nyimba Kabamba Iguru Rukidi IV, Queen Mother Best Kemigisa confirmed that the late monarch left behind a child who was intentionally kept in the United States due to escalating succession disputes and security concerns in the kingdom.
The revelation clarifies weeks of speculation regarding why the child did not accompany the royal family when King Oyo’s body was repatriated from Texas to Uganda for burial.
A Decision Driven by Tensions and Safety
According to Queen Mother Kemigisa, the original plan was for her young grandson to travel alongside the family from Texas on the same flight conveying King Oyo’s remains. However, as news of the monarch’s passing spread, severe political and cultural friction erupted within the kingdom’s leadership over who should succeed the late king.
“Before leaving Texas, our family had hoped that King Oyo’s child would return on the same plane with us,” Kemigisa stated. “However, as events unfolded in Tooro, concerns grew about bringing a child into a tense and polarised succession dispute. Ultimately, the child did not return with us”.
The Queen Mother expressed deep distress that political infighting interfered with the child’s return to his ancestral homeland, emphasizing that protecting her grandson’s safety and well-being was her primary priority.
“Whatever disagreements existed, no child should ever be placed in circumstances where returning to his father’s homeland could mean being drawn into hostility and conflict,” she added.
While she confirmed the child’s existence, Kemigisa did not publicly disclose his name, exact age, or the identity of his mother to maintain their privacy.
Deepening Succession Rift in Tooro Monarchy
The child’s presence in the United States lies at the center of a rift dividing the royal family and key traditional leaders.
Prior to the funeral, the late king’s sister, Princess Ruth Komuntale, alongside the Queen Mother, stated that King Oyo had left behind a written will naming his son as his rightful heir. However, factions within the Babiito royal clan bypassed these claims, moving quickly to select Prince Edward Rukidi Kijanangoma as the new Omukama, arguing that royal succession must strictly follow traditional clan customs rather than written wills.
Kemigisa criticized the speed of the clan council’s actions, noting that decision-making committees were formed hours after King Oyo’s death, while his body was still being prepared for transport in the United States.
She noted that alternative succession declarations and celebrations took place just meters from where the late king’s casket lay upon arriving at Karuziika Palace, describing the ordeal as “extraordinarily painful” for a grieving mother.
Focus on Legacy
Despite the ongoing dispute, Queen Mother Kemigisa called on the people of Tooro and supporters of the late king to maintain peace and pursue resolution through lawful, respectful channels.
Moving forward, the royal family plans to honor King Oyo’s memory through the newly established King Oyo Memorial Foundation. Supported by President Yoweri Museveni as patron, the initiatives will include a cultural museum in Fort Portal and the expansion of the King Oyo Model Farm in Bugaaki to promote agricultural education and community development across the region.
