Thousands of mourners gathered at St John’s Cathedral in Fort Portal on Saturday to pay their final respects to the late King of Tooro, Oyo Nyimba Kabamba Iguru Rukiidi IV, before his body was taken to the Karambi Royal Tombs for burial.
The funeral brought together political leaders, cultural and religious figures, security personnel and international dignitaries.
Among the notable mourners were deputy speaker of parliament Thomas Tayebwa, who represented President Yoweri Museveni, Buganda Prince Charles Wasajja, Nabagereka Sylvia Nagginda, and delegations from South Sudan, Kenya and Lesotho, among others.
Mourners began arriving at the cathedral as early as 6 am, undergoing security checks before being seated according to protocol.
The solemn procession carrying Oyo’s body arrived at the cathedral shortly after 9 am, led by the police band. The body was taken into the cathedral for a short prayer before being brought out for the main funeral service.
Members of the royal family, including Queen Mother Best Kemigisa and Princess Ruth Komuntale Nsemere, accompanied the body throughout the proceedings.
The service was officiated by Church of Uganda Archbishop Stephen Kazimba Mugalu, who delivered the sermon before tributes were made in honour of Oyo’s leadership and contribution to Tooro.
The cathedral also announced plans to plant trees across its grounds in memory of Oyo, highlighting his reported commitment to environmental conservation.
The funeral was initially expected to conclude by 1 pm, after which the body would be transported to the Karambi Royal Tombs for the final burial rites.
Dispute over final rites
The burial was, however, reportedly delayed as disagreements emerged over aspects of the traditional rites at the royal tombs.
According to reports, Queen Mother Kemigisa sought to participate in the final ritual of placing coffee berries in the grave, a role traditionally performed by the head of the Babiito royal clan, the Musuuga.
The ritual involves the throwing of nine coffee berries into the grave as the final traditional farewell to a deceased king.
Reports indicated that Kemigisa resisted the arrangement, prompting a standoff as royal and security officials sought to proceed with the burial rites.
She was reportedly taken away from the burial site with her daughter, Princess Ruth Komuntale Nsemere, as efforts continued to conclude the ceremony.
The developments came against the backdrop of an increasingly bitter dispute within the royal family over Oyo’s succession.
Tooro tradition reportedly requires the king to be buried before 3 pm, but Oyo’s burial proceeded beyond that time. The exact time of burial was not immediately clear.
Omusuuga reaffirms Kijanangoma
Meanwhile, the head of the Babiito royal clan, Musuuga Charles Kamurasi, reaffirmed the selection of Prince Edward Rukidi Kijanangoma as the next king of Tooro.
Speaking at St John’s Cathedral, Kamurasi said the selection had been conducted in accordance with Ugandan law and the cultural and traditional norms of the kingdom.
He said Kijanangoma would reign under the name Edward Rukidi Nyabongo I. The reaffirmation comes amid opposition from members of the royal family, including Queen Mother Kemigisa, princess Ruth Komuntale and princess Elizabeth Bagaya, who have rejected Kijanangoma’s selection.
The group maintains that the late Oyo left a purported will outlining the succession and providing for his son to become king, with two other individuals named as alternatives in case the heir was incapacitated.
The succession dispute has continued to divide sections of the royal family and Babiito clan, despite calls from government and cultural leaders for calm and unity.
Kamurasi also spoke about his personal relationship with Oyo, saying he had taken responsibility for the late king’s welfare from childhood.
He said Oyo’s father, the late Omukama Patrick Matthew David Kaboyo Olimi III, was serving as Uganda’s ambassador to Cuba when Oyo was born and had entrusted him with the responsibility of caring for his son.
Oyo was enthroned at the age of three in 1995, becoming the world’s youngest reigning monarch at the time. Kamurasi said that despite ascending the throne at such a young age, Oyo went on to champion several development initiatives in Tooro.
He said Oyo’s legacy would continue to live on in the kingdom.