The head of the Babiito Royal Clan says he is not aware of any son left behind by the late Omukama Oyo Nyimba Kabamba Iguru Rukidi IV.
According to him, neither is the kingdom aware of such a child. Charles Keith Kamurasi, the Musuuga of Tooro and head of the Babiito clan, says he was surprised when he heard that the late King had a son.
Kamurasi, who says he knew Oyo from childhood and remained close to him throughout his life, insists that, to the best of his knowledge, the 34-year-old King did not have children.
He described the claim that Oyo left behind a son as a hearsay, saying the revelation caught members of the royal family and the wider kingdom off guard.
“I am very unfortunate that the late King Oyo has no children,we were taken by surprise when we had the prime minister announcing there an heir , which is not known to not only the members , but to the entire kingdom” he said
The mystery follows the official announcement of Oyo’s death on Thursday, which stated that the late King had a son whose identity would be revealed at an appropriate time.
The Kingdom’s Prime Minister Calvin Rwomire said in a tweet then : “The continuity of the Crown is assured. His Majesty leaves behind a Prince as his heir, whose identity will be formally revealed at the appropriate time, in accordance with the traditions and customs of Tooro Kingdom”
The revelation was also echoed by President Yoweri Museveni in his condolence message. Museveni said the Queen Mother, Best Kemigisa, had informed him that the late Omukama had a son.
He wrote: “Fortunately, in a telephone call, Her Royal Highness Kemigisa, told me that H.H. Oyo left a young boy heir that will be introduced to the public at the right time.”
For many mourners, the announcement appeared to settle one of the biggest questions surrounding the future of the kingdom succession.
But the comments from the head of the Babiito clan have now reopened the question.
Throughout his reign, there were occasional questions and speculation about whether the young King had a partner or plans to marry soonest.At the time of his death, Oyo was not publicly known to have a wife or child.
The question now is simple but potentially explosive: if the late Omukama did not leave a recognised son, who takes the throne?
Kamurasi says Tooro follows its traditional system of succession through the Babiito, the royal clan whose lineage traces its roots to the founding kings of Tooro.
He explained that the Babiito royal lineage remains intact, with several branches and descendants who could potentially provide a successor.
In the absence of a son to directly succeed Oyo, He suggested that attention could turn back to the descendants associated with Omukama Rukidi III, although he stressed that the eventual successor is not yet known.
“We don’t know who it is going to be. During these days we shall be discussing all these issues,” he said.
Meanwhile, the committee overseeing arrangements for the late Omukama’s burial has indicated that the next King will be determined through an already appointed council of 21elders from the Babiito royal clan.
For now, however, the biggest mystery remains unanswered.
Does King Oyo have a son, and if he does, who is he?
As Tooro mourns the death of its young King, the identity and whereabouts of the reported heir could become one of the most closely watched questions in the kingdom. Until the royal family or the relevant traditional authorities provide clarity, the succession of the Tooro throne remains shrouded in uncertainty.
