HRH Best Kemigisa speaks on the pain of losing her son, broken burial agreements, and the launch of the King Oyo Memorial Foundation.
Kampala, Uganda — Her Royal Highness Best Kemigisa, the Queen Mother of Tooro, has released a comprehensive five-page statement mourning the passing of her son, King Oyo Nyimba Kabamba Iguru Rukidi IV, while outlining ambitious legacy projects and addressing the escalating succession tensions within the kingdom.
The statement comes in the wake of King Oyo’s death in August 2026 from cancer treatment in the United States, an event that has sparked disputes after clan elders quickly named his cousin, Edward Rukidi Nyabongo I, as successor despite a will naming Oyo’s young son in Texas as heir.
A Mother’s Pain and Gratitude
Speaking “first and foremost as a mother,” Queen Kemigisa expressed the profound grief of losing her only son, stating, “There are no words that can adequately explain the pain of a mother burying her child. King Oyo was my son before he was my King.”
Despite her heartbreak, the Queen Mother extended deep gratitude to the people of Tooro, Uganda, Africa, and the global community for their overwhelming support during the nine days of mourning at Karuziika Palace and Fort Portal. She specifically thanked President Yoweri Kaguta Museveni for his support during King Oyo’s illness and for ensuring his dignified return home. Furthermore, she announced that President Museveni has agreed to serve as the Patron and Founding Chairman of the King Oyo Memorial Foundation.
Succession Tensions and Broken Agreements
The Queen Mother did not shy away from addressing the painful succession disputes that overshadowed the mourning period. She detailed how, only hours after her son’s death, a committee was started to choose a new king while his body was still being transported home. Another announcement of a second king was made immediately after the Will was read to the Royal Family, Musuga, and Babiito Clan representatives.
“As a mother, that was extraordinarily painful,” she stated, noting that loud celebrations took place only metres from where her son’s body lay.
She revealed that the heir—King Oyo’s young son—did not return from Texas with the family due to concerns about bringing a child into a “tense and polarised succession dispute.” An MOU was reportedly signed by government leaders, the Musuga, and the Babiito Clan to ensure a dignified burial before addressing succession. However, the Queen Mother stated these understandings were not honored at Karambi, causing “profound distress” to the family.
“Whatever disagreements existed, no child should ever be placed in circumstances where returning to his father’s homeland could mean being drawn into hostility and conflict,” she emphasized.
Building a Legacy: The King Oyo Memorial Foundation
Choosing to let “gratitude, faith, hope and service have the final word” over anger, the Queen Mother and her daughter, Princess Ruth Nsemere Komuntale Farquharson Akiiki, have established the King Oyo Memorial Foundation to preserve his memory and serve the people.
The foundation encompasses several major projects:
· The King Oyo Tooro Museum: To preserve the King’s personal belongings and the wider history and culture of Tooro, boosting tourism and local business.
· The King Oyo International Stadium: Utilizing approximately 50 acres of land donated by the late King to complete a stadium for youth sports development.
· The King Oyo Research & Teaching Hospital: A modern teaching and research hospital in Tooro, featuring dedicated Cancer and HIV Research Centres.
· The King Oyo Model Farm at Bugaaki: Expanding the existing farm into a center for agricultural education, innovation, and community outreach.
A Call for Unity and Inspiration
In her closing remarks, the Queen Mother addressed the youth of Uganda, urging them not to believe their age prevents them from making a difference. She also spoke to parents, advising them to hold their children close.
“I never imagined that I would one day have to stand before the world and speak about my only son in the past tense. I would give anything for one more conversation, one more laugh, one more ordinary day with him,” she wrote.
Ahead of the new king’s coronation scheduled for September 29, Queen Kemigisa called for peace and unity. “Let us build rather than divide. Let us serve rather than fight. My son has finished his earthly journey, but his story has not ended. His mother is still here. His sister is still here. His child is still here. And God is still with us.”
The statement was signed off with a heartfelt “Mwebale muno. Thank you,” and a prayer for the eternal peace of His Majesty Rukirabasaija Oyo Nyimba Kabamba Iguru Rukidi IV.
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