Uganda’s King Oyo Nyimba, once recognised as the world’s youngest monarch, has been buried amid a bitter succession dispute that has divided the royal family and attracted widespread attention across the country.
The traditional ruler of the Tooro Kingdom died last month at the age of 34 after battling cancer. He was laid to rest beside his ancestors on Saturday following an emotional funeral service at an Anglican cathedral in Fort Portal, a remote city close to Uganda’s border with the Democratic Republic of Congo. His burial brought a nine-day period of mourning to an end.
Oyo became king in 1995 at just three years old following the death of his father. He was initially guided by regents until he reached adulthood at 18. His coronation included traditional rituals, including a ceremony at his father’s tomb where he was required to successfully throw nine coffee beans into it as part of a coming-of-age tradition.
Oyo’s death has now triggered uncertainty over who should inherit the Tooro throne. Elders from the Babiito, the ruling clan of the kingdom, say Oyo never formally named a successor and dispute claims that he had a son born outside marriage.
The alleged son has not been publicly identified, while speculation on social media has produced claims involving at least two possible children of the late monarch.
On Wednesday, a committee of Tooro elders announced that they had selected a prince who works as a journalist to succeed Oyo. The decision was welcomed by traditionalists who favour having an adult monarch but strongly criticised by members of Oyo’s immediate family.
Oyo’s sister, Ruth Komuntale, accused those behind the announcement of attempting to create “division and turmoil”. Queen Mother Best Kemigisa also expressed concern, saying the succession dispute was interfering with the family’s ability to properly mourn the king.
She appealed to those involved in the succession battle to wait until after the mourning period, urging them to allow the family to grieve and bury her son before addressing the question of the throne.
The dispute could eventually be taken to court. Oyo’s family has claimed that the late king left a will setting out his wishes for his succession, but they say Tooro elders have ignored it.
Oyo became a celebrated figure from childhood after taking the throne at three. His colourful royal appearances and personality made him popular among hundreds of thousands of followers, while his position also brought him into contact with prominent international figures, including former South African president Nelson Mandela.
His death has been mourned across Tooro and beyond. Prominent analyst Timothy Kalyegira, who is from the region, compared the impact of Oyo’s death to the loss of legendary musician Bob Marley, describing the king as a likeable young man whose death at only 34 was particularly painful.
The Tooro royal family also had a relationship with former Libyan leader Moammar Gadhafi, who developed a close bond with the kingdom and visited Uganda several times. Gadhafi supported Oyo and his mother for years before his death in 2011.
Uganda’s traditional kingdoms have a complicated history. They were abolished following independence from British colonial rule by a republican government seeking to unify the country, before being restored in 1993.
Today, traditional monarchs have no formal political authority and are legally prohibited from participating in partisan politics. However, they continue to hold significant cultural influence and serve as custodians of the traditions and heritage of their respective communities.
The question of who will succeed King Oyo therefore remains unresolved, leaving the future leadership of the Tooro Kingdom at the centre of an increasingly bitter royal dispute.
