Uganda's King Oyo buried amid calls for unity over his successor

What the report says

Uganda’s King Oyo Nyimba Kabamba Iguru Rukidi IV was buried on Saturday in Fort Portal, western Uganda, as a dispute deepened over who should inherit the throne of the traditional Tooro kingdom. BBC Africa reported that thousands of mourners lined the route to the royal tombs before a private burial ceremony. Oyo, who became king at the age of three and was widely known as the world’s youngest reigning monarch, died last month while receiving cancer treatment in the United States.

The succession row centers on Prince Edward Rukidi Kijanangoma, a television news presenter and cousin of the late king, who was named by clan elders as the next monarch. The family has rejected that choice, saying Oyo left a written will in 2022 naming his young son as successor. The child has not been publicly identified. The family also alleged that royal security was tightened and movement restricted after the death, though the clan overseeing succession disputed the claims.

The BBC said Tooro is one of Uganda’s restored traditional kingdoms, which serve cultural rather than political roles. At the funeral, church and state figures urged restraint. The Archbishop of the Church of Uganda and President Yoweri Museveni both called for unity and a peaceful resolution, warning that the disagreement could damage the late king’s legacy. The clan responsible for the succession said it had followed custom and wanted to preserve peace.