By Joseph Kiggundu
FORT PORTAL. The burial of fallen Tooro King Oyo Nyimba Kabamba Iguru Rukidi IV was disrupted twice on Saturday after Queen Mother Best Kemigisa disputed arrangements for the movement of the late king’s remains.
This prompted security intervention and delaying the final burial at the royal tombs in Karambi.
The first confrontation occurred in the morning at the royal palace, shortly before the scheduled funeral service at St. John’s Cathedral in Fort Portal.
Sources said Kemigisa refused to allow Oyo’s body to leave the palace for the church service, creating a standoff as mourners, royal officials and dignitaries waited for the funeral programme to proceed.
Security agencies eventually intervened and moved the remains from the palace, allowing the body to be taken to St. John’s Cathedral for the funeral service.
The disruption came on an already tense day for the kingdom, which is mourning the death of Oyo, who died in the United States on Aug. 27 at the age of 34 after more than three decades as Omukama.
But tensions resurfaced after the church service when the remains were taken to the royal burial grounds at Karambi.
According to sources, Kemigisa again caused a delay after insisting that she should attend the burial ceremony at the royal tombs. The disagreement held up proceedings as preparations were made to complete the burial.
The incidents exposed the depth of tensions within the royal family at a time when Tooro is also facing a contested succession following Oyo’s death.
The Royal Succession Committee had selected George Desmond Kamurasi as its preferred successor, with 15 of the 18 members present voting for him on Sept. 4.
The decision was subsequently challenged by another faction, which has cited a purported will said to contain Oyo’s wishes regarding his successor.
The dispute has since taken a new turn with the emergence and enthronement of Edward Rukiidi Nyabongo I as Omukama.
The succession controversy had prompted Tooro Prime Minister Calvin Rwomiire to call for restraint and urge the competing factions to suspend the succession dispute until after Oyo’s burial.
The events surrounding the funeral nevertheless showed that tensions extended beyond the succession process, with disagreements over the handling of the late king’s remains spilling into the public funeral proceedings.
Oyo was eventually buried at the royal tombs in Karambi, bringing to an end a day of extraordinary scenes surrounding the final rites for a king who had ruled Tooro since he was three years old.
The burial has now given way to the installation of Edward Rukiidi Nyabongo I, who has begun the traditional rituals associated with his new reign.
The transition leaves Tooro facing the difficult task of consolidating the new monarchy while addressing unresolved disagreements within the Babiito royal clan over the succession.
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