Uganda buries former world’s youngest monarch amid royal succession dispute

Uganda on Saturday buried King Oyo Nyimba Kabamba Iguru Rukidi IV, the former world’s youngest reigning monarch, amid a growing dispute over who will succeed him as king of the Tooro Kingdom.

Thousands of mourners gathered to pay their final respects to King Oyo, who died at the age of 34 while receiving cancer treatment in the United States.

King Oyo ascended the throne in 1995 at the age of three following the death of his father, King Patrick Matthew Kaboyo Rukidi III. He went on to reign for 31 years and was recognised by Guinness World Records as the world’s youngest reigning monarch.

His body was returned to Uganda ahead of the burial, arriving at Entebbe Airport, where President Yoweri Museveni joined other mourners to pay his respects.

Following a brief ceremony, the coffin was flown by military helicopter to Kyegegwa in western Uganda before being transported by road to the royal palace in Fort Portal, the seat of the Tooro Kingdom.

The burial came amid a succession dispute within the Babiito royal clan, which traditionally handles matters concerning royal lineage and succession.

A selection committee from the clan had announced Prince Edward Rukidi Kijanangoma, a news anchor with Uganda’s public broadcaster, UBC, as King Oyo’s successor.

However, the decision was challenged by the late king’s sister, Princess Ruth Komuntale, who accused unnamed individuals of conspiring against her and the Queen Mother.

Komuntale also produced a document she said was a will written by King Oyo in 2022, claiming that it identified “a biological son” as his heir. She did not disclose the alleged son’s name.

The claim reportedly came as a surprise to members of the Tooro elite, who said they had not previously heard of the child. The alleged son was also not included in the succession vote.

Speaking during Saturday’s burial ceremony, President Museveni called on the Batoro to resolve the dispute peacefully and maintain unity.

“Once the matter of the new king of the Batoro is settled, we will be happy to work with him, just as we did with His Highness Oyo,” Museveni said in a statement read at the ceremony.

“I call on the Batoro to use peaceful and lawful means to resolve this issue and to favour unity over division.”

The head of the Babiito royal clan, Omusuuga Charles Karumasi, defended the selection of Prince Kijanangoma, saying the process followed the culture and traditions of the Tooro Kingdom.

“We have done everything in observance of the culture and traditions of Tooro. We must all preserve peace and serenity,” he said.

Uganda is a republic but officially recognises four traditional kingdoms, which operate mainly as cultural institutions with limited political powers.