By Maria Mariam Namala
FORT PORTAL. The Queen Mother Best Kemigisa has accused a group of Tooro clan members of attempting to install a successor to the late King Oyo Nyimba Kabamba Iguru Rukidi IV before his burial, saying the move has exacerbated divisions within the kingdom and overshadowed the royal family’s mourning.
In a statement issued three days before Oyo’s burial, Kemigisa said the succession dispute had erupted despite a Will that she said clearly sets out the late king’s preferred order of succession.
She appealed to President Museveni, the Uganda People’s Defence Forces leadership and those contesting the throne to allow the family to bury Oyo before pursuing the succession question.
“I write this with a heavy heart,” Kemigisa said, recalling that she was 26 when her husband, former Omukama Patrick Matthew Kaboyo Olimi III, died, leaving Oyo, then two years old.
Kemigisa said she faced a succession dispute almost immediately after returning from Britain to bury her husband, with some Babiito arguing that Oyo was too young to become king and that his uncle should instead take the throne.
“The same Babiito clan members said he was too young at 3 years old to be king and that his father, Omukama Patrick, had left no Will naming him successor,” she said.
According to Kemigisa, the dispute eventually went to court, but Oyo retained the throne.
She said she later experienced another loss when her daughter Cecilia died of leukemia and accused some of the same clan leaders of failing to support the family during the bereavement.
“None of these clan leaders you saw today came to see us or helped us bury her,” she said.
Oyo subsequently ruled Tooro for 31 years, becoming one of Uganda’s longest-serving traditional leaders. Kemigisa said he built relationships nationally and internationally and credited Museveni with supporting the kingdom during his reign.
“By the grace of God, my son went on to serve Tooro for 31 years,” she said. “He made friends across Uganda and around the world.”
Oyo died in the United States on Aug. 27 at the age of 34 after receiving treatment for cancer abroad.
Kemigisa said Museveni had assisted with arrangements to return the king’s remains to Uganda and prepare for his burial, while the UPDF engineering brigade worked on the royal grave and roads leading to the royal tombs.
“We thank him. The UPDF engineering brigade started building the royal grave and roads leading to the royal tombs. We thank the CDF,” she said.
Kemigisa said tensions escalated as the royal family travelled to Fort Portal for the burial arrangements.
“Before we could even reach Fort Portal, we had reached Kyenjojo, Andrew Mwenda announced that a self-appointed group of clan members had chosen another King,” she said.
Her comments follow the reported selection by a group of Babiito of Prince Edward Rukidi Kijanangoma, 56 a former Uganda Broadcasting Corporation journalist, as successor to Oyo.
The announcement has been disputed by members of the royal family, including Princess Ruth Komuntale, Oyo’s sister, who said the succession process had not been completed.
Komuntale said the royal family had met with Musuuga Charles Kamurasi and other Babiito members earlier on Wednesday to review Oyo’s will and had planned another meeting with lawyers before a successor was proclaimed.
Kemigisa similarly said the will was subsequently read at a meeting attended by members of the royal family and government representatives.
She named Musuuga Charles Kamurasi, Princess Komuntale, Princess Margaret Komubaizi, Father Oyo, Monsignor Father Mayombo and Maj. Gen. Henry Tumukunde, who represented Museveni as Minister of Gender, Labour and Social Development, among those present.
“The Will clearly set out the order of succession to the Tooro throne,” she said.
The will, dated Sept. 14, 2022, states that if Oyo was survived by a lawfully recognised biological son, he would be the king’s heir to the Tooro throne.
It then names Prince Komwiswa Yoweri, son of Musuuga Charles Kamurasi Akiiki, as the alternative successor if Oyo’s son was unable to succeed, followed by Prince Nyaika Solomon under specified circumstances.
Kemigisa said those present agreed to meet again the following day under Tumukunde’s chairmanship.
She alleged, however, that the agreement was overtaken by the announcement of Kijanangoma later that evening.
“But that same evening, while my son’s body was still lying next to us, these select clan members held a press conference and declared their own King in disregard of the Will and the agreement with the minister,” she said.
The Queen Mother said the timing of the announcement had been particularly painful for the family.
“They could have done this anywhere else. Instead, they chose to jubilate while my son was still lying in his casket next to them,” she said.
“That is what has hurt us most. My daughter is devastated. Our family is grieving.”
Kemigisa also raised concerns over the presence of security forces around Karuziika Palace.
She alleged that Gen. Kayanja Muhanga had removed royal guards and that troops were subsequently deployed around the palace.
“Gen. Kayanja Muhanga came to the Palace and removed the royal guards without notice, and troops were deployed around the Palace,” she said.
She further alleged that the Musuuga had been taken to a location that the royal family was not told about.
“And now, with the security deployment around the Palace, we cannot leave or receive people freely. We are under house arrest,” Kemigisa said.
The allegations add a security dimension to an increasingly contentious succession process, although the circumstances and purpose of the deployment were not independently established in her statement.
Kemigisa appealed to Muhanga, the UPDF leadership and Museveni to allow the family to mourn and bury Oyo without further disruption.
“I appeal to Gen. Kayanja Muhanga, UPDF leadership, and the president to allow our family the freedom and dignity to mourn and bury King Oyo in peace,” she said.
She also urged those involved in the succession contest to postpone the dispute until after the burial.
“I also appeal to those fighting over the throne: please, there will be time for all of that. Let us grieve and bury my son King Oyo,” she said.
Oyo is due to be buried on Saturday, September 12, which would have marked the 31st anniversary of his coronation.