Queen Mother Best Kemigisa has appealed to President Yoweri Museveni and the leadership of the Uganda People’s Defence Forces (UPDF) to intervene in the escalating dispute over the Tooro Kingdom throne, saying her family is being prevented from freely mourning and preparing for the burial of the late King Oyo Nyimba Kabamba Iguru Rukidi IV.
In a statement issued three days before King Oyo’s burial, the Queen Mother described the situation at the royal palace as increasingly restrictive, saying a security deployment around the palace had left the family unable to freely leave or receive visitors.
The appeal comes amid growing disagreement over the succession following the announcement by the Tooro Kingdom’s Babiito clan on Wednesday that Prince Edward Rukidi Kijanangoma had been selected as the next Omukama.
The announcement was made at Karuziika Palace, where Monsignor Isaiah Mayombo read a resolution on behalf of the Babiito clan and the 21-member Royal Succession Committee. The committee said it had been mandated by a General Meeting of the Ababiito clan to identify a suitable successor and that it had conducted consultations and due diligence before settling on Kijanangoma. Nineteen members endorsed the resolution.
However, sections of the royal family have disputed the process, pointing to the late King Oyo’s Last Will and Testament and arguing that the document should first be examined before any succession process proceeds.
Princess Ruth Komuntale has maintained that following the reading of the late King’s Will, the next step was for lawyers to examine and discuss its contents before succession could proceed. According to the royal family’s account, the Will set out an order of succession that placed Oyo’s son first, followed by other members of the royal family, with the Musuuga or Kamusiiga presented as a last resort.
The Queen Mother says the Will was read at 4pm before representatives of the Royal Family and Government, including Princess Ruth Komuntale, Princess Margaret Komubaizi, Monsignor Father Mayombo, Father Oyo, the Musuuga and Maj Gen Henry Tumukunde, who represented the President.
She says the meeting agreed to reconvene the following day under Gen Tumukunde’s chairmanship.
But, according to Kemigisa, the situation changed dramatically that same evening.
“But that same evening, while my son’s body was still lying next to us, these select clan members held a press conference and declared their own King in disregard of the Will and the agreement with the minister.”
She said the timing of the announcement was particularly painful for the grieving family.
“They could have done this anywhere else. Instead, they chose to jubilate while my son was still lying in his casket next to them. That is what has hurt us most. My daughter is devastated. Our family is grieving.”
The Queen Mother also raised concerns over developments at the palace involving security personnel.
“Now, three days to my son’s burial, Gen. Kayanja Muhanga came to the Palace and removed the royal guards without notice, and troops were deployed around the Palace. They took the Musuuga away to a location we were not told.”
The security presence around the palace has also been observed on the ground as tensions surrounding the succession continue to rise.
Kemigisa said the deployment had restricted the family’s movement and ability to receive mourners.
“And now, with the security deployment around the Palace, we cannot leave or receive people freely. We are under house arrest. I appeal to Gen. Kayanja Muhanga, UPDF leadership, and the president to allow our family the freedom and dignity to mourn and bury King Oyo in peace.”
The Queen Mother’s statement comes against the backdrop of a succession history marked by disputes.
She recalled that when her husband, former Omukama Patrick, died, she was only 26 and was in the United Kingdom receiving treatment for their young daughter, Cecilia. Oyo was only two years old at the time.
After returning to Tooro to bury her husband, she said she was forced to fight for Oyo’s right to succeed him after some Babiito clan members argued that he was too young to become King and that his father had left no Will naming him as successor.
The matter went to court, where Oyo ultimately prevailed.
Kemigisa also recalled the death of her daughter Cecilia from leukemia a few years later, saying the experience compounded the family’s grief.
Oyo went on to reign for 31 years, having ascended the Tooro throne as a young child in 1995. During his reign, he became one of Uganda’s longest-serving cultural leaders and developed relationships across Uganda and beyond.
The Queen Mother credited President Museveni with supporting efforts to bring Oyo’s body back to Tooro and prepare for his burial, and thanked the UPDF leadership for supporting preparations at the royal burial grounds.
She now wants the same government leadership to help ensure that the royal family is allowed to mourn without further confrontation.
“I also appeal to those fighting over the throne: please, there will be time for all of that. Let us grieve and bury my son King Oyo.”
She described her late son as a devoted King and family member who loved Tooro and served its people for more than three decades.
“He was a good son. He was a good King. He loved Tooro and served his people for 31 years. Most importantly, he served God.”
Oyo died on August 27, 2026, after a battle with cancer. His burial is scheduled for September 12 in Tooro.
The Queen Mother ended her appeal with a plea for the kingdom to allow the late monarch to be laid to rest before the succession battle continues.“He has gone to be with the Lord. Please allow us to send him home with the dignity and respect he deserves.”
