Tooro Succession Crisis Deepens as Princess Komuntale Condemns “Dramatic” Announcement

Princess Ruth Komuntale has fiercely rejected the Babiito Clan’s declaration of Prince Edward Rukidi Kiijanangoma as the new King of Tooro, calling the move “dramatic” and insisting that the late King Oyo left behind a rightful heir.

Fort Portal, Uganda – September 9, 2026 (Updated)

The storm over the Tooro throne has intensified tonight as Princess Ruth Komuntale, sister of the late Omukama Oyo Nyimba Kabamba Iguru Rukidi IV, broke her silence in an exclusive interview with NBS TV, delivering a stinging rebuke to the Babiito Clan’s leadership and demanding an end to what she termed “stupid drama.”

The Princess rejected the Wednesday evening announcement by the succession committee that named Prince Edward Rukidi Kiijanangoma as the new King of Tooro. She declared that no successor was confirmed during the said meeting, which also involved Minister of Gender, Labour, and Social Development Gen. Henry Tumukunde.

“We have a meeting that was called, and it ended with all of us agreeing that we shall meet on tomorrow — Thursday — to resolve this matter,” Princess Komuntale stated. “Nobody was confirmed as King.”

Her remarks directly contradict the succession committee’s resolution, which was signed by nineteen clan members and declared Prince Edward as the duly elected successor following what they claimed was “due diligence, consultation and adequate consideration.”

The Princess’s defiance underscores the growing rift between the late King’s immediate family and the clan leadership. At the heart of the dispute remains the existence of a young male heir, a matter that has become the central flashpoint in the succession battle.

“One thing is certain,” Princess Komuntale emphasized, “King Oyo left behind an heir. Stop the stupid drama, respect my brother.”

The late King’s 2022 Last Will and Testament explicitly provides for succession, stating: “I hereby declare and direct that if, at the date of my death, I am survived by a Son lawfully recognized as my biological Son, I appoint him as my heir to the Throne of the Kingdom of Tooro.”

The Princess’s intervention comes amid reports that Prime Minister Calvin Armstrong Ruwomire and the Queen Mother, Best Kemigisa, have both acknowledged the existence of a child heir. The Queen Mother reportedly informed President Yoweri Museveni of this fact shortly after the King’s passing on August 27, 2026.

However, Charles Kamurasi Musuuga, representing the Babiito Clan leadership, has publicly disputed these claims, stating that no heir has been formally presented to the clan elders for verification and that the Prime Minister lacked authority to declare a successor.

The controversy has drawn national attention, with the government urging calm and a legal resolution to the crisis. Gen. Henry Tumukunde’s presence at the meeting suggests the government is closely monitoring the volatile situation, though his role and the outcome of the consultations remain unclear.

Princess Elizabeth Bagaya, a senior member of the royal family and former Ugandan Foreign Minister, has backed Princess Komuntale, describing the situation as a “tragic moment” for the royal family. She has accused the clan of acting as “evil vultures” seeking to steal what her brother worked so hard for.

The succession committee, led by the Omujwera Musuuga (Head of the Babiito Clan), had on Wednesday declared Prince Edward Rukidi Kiijanangoma — a grandson of Omukama George David Kamurasi Rukidi III — as the rightful successor. The announcement was met with celebration by some at UBC, who hailed the “historic moment.”

But for the late King’s family, the matter is far from settled. With the follow-up meeting scheduled for Thursday, the kingdom now awaits what could be a defining moment in Tooro’s history.

Princess Komuntale’s emotional plea — “respect my brother” — echoes the sentiments of many who view the clan’s move as a direct challenge to the late King’s wishes and memory.

As the nation watches, the Babiito Clan finds itself at a crossroads: whether to heed the Princess’s call for restraint or press forward with their chosen candidate, Prince Edward. Meanwhile, a parallel narrative involving George Desmond Kamurasi — a British-based amateur footballer reportedly selected by a separate faction of the succession committee — only adds to the confusion.

For now, Karuziika Palace remains a house divided, and the Tooro throne stands vacant amidst a battle of wills, tradition, law, and family loyalty. All eyes now turn to Thursday’s meeting, which may determine the kingdom’s future — or deepen the crisis further.