Tooro Queen Mother Best Kemigisa has rejected the selection of Prince Edward Rukidi Kijanangoma as the new King of Tooro, accusing the 21-member succession committee of disregarding the purported will of the late King Oyo and an earlier agreement to suspend the succession process until after his burial.
In a statement issued on Thursday, Kemigisa said the committee’s announcement of Kijanangoma contradicted the contents of Oyo’s purported will and an agreement reached during a meeting chaired by Maj Gen Henry Tumukunde, minister of Gender, Labour and Social Development.
Kemigisa said the will was read at about 4 pm on Wednesday in the presence of members of the royal family and government officials, including Tumukunde.
One of the provisions in the document concerning succession states: “I hereby declare and direct that if, at the date of my death, I am survived by a son lawfully recognized as my biological son, I appoint him as my heir to the throne of the Kingdom of Tooro as the case may be in accordance with Section 4 of the Institution of Traditional or Cultural Leaders Act, 2011, the customs and traditions of Tooro Kingdom.”
Kemigisa said the reading of the purported will was followed by an agreement to convene another meeting on Thursday to address the succession question. She said she was therefore disappointed that, while Oyo’s body was still lying in state, members of the select committee held a separate press conference and announced Kijanangoma as the new king.
Kemigisa questioned the timing of the announcement, saying celebrations could have been held elsewhere rather than while her son was still lying in his casket.
The Queen Mother called on all parties to suspend the dispute over the throne, saying there would be a proper time to address succession but that the immediate priority should be mourning and giving Oyo a dignified burial.
She also appealed to the leadership of the Uganda People’s Defence Forces (UPDF), President Yoweri Kaguta Museveni and other relevant authorities to allow the royal family to mourn and bury their king in peace.
Kemigisa further alleged that royal guards had been removed from Karuziika Palace and replaced with UPDF soldiers, a move she said had restricted mourners from accessing the palace to pay their respects.
She also said she had neither been consulted nor involved in the succession process.
Komuntale rejects selection
King Oyo’s sister, Princess Ruth Komuntale Nsemere, earlier also rejected the announcement of Kijanangoma, joining her aunts, Princess Elizabeth Bagaya and Princess Margaret Komubaizi, in denouncing the selection.
Komuntale said the royal family had not reached consensus with key members of the Babiito clan, including clan leader Charles Kamurasi, on the appointment of a new king.
She said the family’s understanding was that the succession process would be put on hold until after Oyo’s burial. The Babiito clan, however, has defended the selection of Kijanangoma, maintaining that the traditional process should determine the next monarch.
Moses Musinguzi, spokesperson for the Babiito clan, said even the existence of a son of the late king would not automatically make him king, arguing that the decision must take into account Babiito traditions and the wishes of the people of Tooro.
The competing positions have deepened the succession dispute as Tooro prepares to bury King Oyo Nyimba Kabamba Iguru Rukidi IV at the Karambi Royal Tombs in Fort Portal on Saturday.
King Oyo died in the United States while receiving treatment, and preparations for his burial are continuing amid an increasingly public dispute over who should succeed him.
Its all vanity.
Oh what a sad mess !
First , the Queen Mother mentions that there was a meeting chaired by Maj.Gen. Tumukunde , Then she is quoted as having alleged that royal guard were replaced by special forces .
When a military man from another tribe has to chair a meeting where the custom regarding the succession of the Omukama of Tooro is discussed , why should you turn around and act surprised by the presence and the dominance of the military ?
Isn`t obvious who is “selecting” the next Omukama of Tooro ?
In other words Betty, just like the late Muhammar Gaddafi (RIP in an unmarked grave the the Sahara Desert wilderness or under the Mediterranean Sea), declared himself the African King of Kings; our 86-years-old PROBLEM OF AFRICA, Gen Tibuhaburwa is the Concealed Uganda’s King of Kings.
OMUSUUGA man is on a mission. 🤔
The first picked “successor” categorically refused to accept the drama, but Charles Kamurasi & Co are so determined to break every rule of the tradition they claim to be guardian and do whatever they desire, in exchange for the money, then MANIPULATE the narrative and say, “This is in the interest of Batooro people”. If indeed it’s the Batooro people, how come you’ve distanced them from their deceased king, suppressed their voices, broken the law of the land, broken every protocol of your own tradition, made half hazard decisions in fuss, even before Oyo is buried, like you just couldn’t wait for him to die until you take over the crown … the body is still in state and already you’re grappling with unknowns for succession, even negating your own words where you publicly claimed direction?
Who is being fooled by these actions? It appears this Charles guy in fact hated Oyo’s dad too … no wonder he was not kept informed of the details of the deceased Oyo’s health and now he’s trying to elevate himself, together with the subject, to usurp the crown.
To make matters worse, other fools are backing these subjects from behind the scenes and that’s a clear guarantee that Tooro is done; gone kabisa unless the real Batooro come to their senses and act now accordingly.
In hindsight, if only the Prime Minister had not told that big lie that, all was well with the late Rukirabasaija, and had been transparent regarding his late Majesty’s ill-health, perhaps, just perhaps, Toro would not be going through these very ugly and embarrassing scenes that are unfolding.
Wake-up call! Oyo carried powerful spiritual powers at a young age especially from the Bachwezi followers….Confessing Christ interfered and limited the Bachwezi access. It had/has to be stolen, broken or transferred in one way or the other. This is what we are seeing unfold, especially with genie (majin) practices in Tooro and Uganda. It calls on people from Tooro and Uganda to stop, pray and break this layer of “spiritual” powers that swaps identities and destinies. Oyo’s identity I believe was swapped on August 22/23, in Kyanja/Kisaasi and on the Nile river between amber court and Bujagali in Jinja. Where I believe there could be a Banyoro/Batooro shrines or a witch. I saw it in a vision/dream, where there was mockery, people dancing and drinking. Let’s join together in prayers to break this evil and curse. It’s not affecting Tooro alone, it’s Ugandans problem too. RIP OYO!
“Kemigisa further alleged that royal guards had been removed from Karuziika Palace and replaced with UPDF soldiers”. If UPDF is concerned about the security, they should offer layers of security not core layer that is for the royal guards… Something doesn’t sound right here! Should we suspect something unfolding?