Uganda’s Tooro Kingdom on Saturday buried King Oyo Nyimba Kabamba Iguru Rukidi IV, bringing an end to a nine-day mourning period for the monarch who became internationally known after ascending the throne at the age of three.
Oyo, who died last month in the United States while receiving treatment for cancer, was 34. He was laid to rest at the Karambi Royal Tombs in Fort Portal, western Uganda, alongside previous Tooro monarchs. Thousands of mourners, royal family members, cultural leaders and government officials took part in the final ceremonies.
The burial came exactly 31 years after Oyo was crowned king in 1995, when his age made him one of the most widely recognised child monarchs in the world. Although Uganda’s traditional kings have no formal political authority, they remain important cultural figures and custodians of traditional institutions.
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Oyo was remembered not only for the responsibilities he carried as monarch but also for his personality away from his royal duties.
“Although he became king and carried responsibilities far beyond what most people ever experience, he never completely lost the young boy who loved to have fun,” said his sister, Ruth Komuntale.
His reign, which lasted more than three decades, made him a prominent figure in Uganda’s cultural life. He was also remembered for his public advocacy, including efforts to support campaigns against HIV and AIDS.
The funeral also marked the formal beginning of a new reign amid a dispute over who should succeed Oyo.
Edward Rukidi Kijanangoma, a 56-year-old journalist and news anchor with Uganda Broadcasting Corporation, was selected by members of the Babiito royal clan to succeed Oyo. During the traditional burial rites on Saturday, Kijanangoma formally assumed power by casting nine coffee berries into the late king’s grave.
However, the succession decision has divided Oyo’s family. His immediate relatives have maintained that the late king left a son who should inherit the throne under a will they say he left behind. The purported heir has not been publicly identified, while supporters of Kijanangoma’s succession have questioned whether the child has been formally presented according to Tooro tradition.
The disagreement has raised concerns about divisions within the royal family at a time when the kingdom is mourning the loss of its long-serving monarch.
The Archbishop of the Church of Uganda, Stephen Kazimba Mugalu, appealed for unity during the funeral service, warning that statements made during a period of grief could deepen divisions and undermine Oyo’s legacy.
With his burial completed and Kijanangoma taking over the throne, attention will now turn to whether the succession dispute can be resolved without further divisions within the Tooro royal family.
