TOORO KINGDOM SUCCESSION CRISIS DEEPENS AS ATTORNEY GENERAL INTERVENES
Kampala, Uganda — The succession dispute in the Tooro Kingdom has intensified following the death of King Oyo Nyimba Kabamba Iguru Rukidi IV, with the Attorney General now ruling that the late monarch’s will must guide the process before any new king is officially announced.
According to reports from Bukedde, Attorney General Sam Mayanja has advised that the 2022 will must be followed, prioritizing any lawful son of King Oyo, or, in their absence, Prince Komwiswa Yoweri or Prince Solomon Nyaika. Mayanja warned that if the will is not properly considered, the courts will ultimately have to resolve the matter of who succeeds the late King.
The legal intervention comes amid a deepening rift within the royal family. The Babiito royal clan’s committee recently selected Prince Edward Rukidi Kijangoma as the next Omukama. However, this decision has been rejected by the Queen Mother and Princess Ruth Komuntale, who insist that the late King’s will must be followed first. The dispute has cast a shadow over the mourning period, with mourners expressing grief over the timing of the rift during the lead-up to the September 12 burial.
A Call for Healing and Reflection
As the Kingdom navigates this turbulent period, Calvin Armstrong Rwomushana, speaking on behalf of the Tooro Kingdom administration, issued a message of gratitude, reflection, and healing.
In a statement released on X (formerly Twitter), Rwomushana expressed profound gratitude to everyone who supported the final journey and dignified send-off of the late King. “Our responsibility during these difficult days was clear: whatever else was happening around us, we had to see this journey through with the dignity, respect and honour befitting our King,” he stated. “We had to put aside our differences, manage our grief and work together to ensure that His Majesty was laid to rest in a manner worthy of the Crown he carried.”
Rwomushana specifically recognized Prince Jonathan Bala, the late King’s Principal Private Secretary, for his steadfast loyalty and dedication during an extraordinarily difficult period.
He also extended thanks to President Museveni, General Muhoozi, the Royal Family, the Government of Uganda, religious and cultural leaders, and the people of Tooro, both locally and in the diaspora.
Acknowledging that the events were unprecedented for the current generation, Rwomushana offered a sincere apology for any shortcomings. “Where we fell short of expectations, where communication could have been better, or where anyone felt disappointed by our actions or omissions, I offer my sincere apologies,” he said. “These shortcomings should never be mistaken for a lack of respect or commitment.”
“Tooro Comes First”
With the King now laid to rest, Rwomushana emphasized that a new journey of learning, rebuilding, and healing must begin. He called for unity amid differing opinions, stating, “This is not the time for winners and losers. It is the time for responsible leadership, humility and reconciliation.”
He reminded the Kingdom that while positions and personal ambitions are temporary, the responsibility of preserving Tooro endures. “Our guiding principle in the days ahead must therefore remain simple: Tooro comes first. Above personalities. Above positions. Above disagreements. Above individual interests.”
As the Kingdom awaits the official resolution of the succession dispute, the Attorney General’s ruling serves as a critical legal benchmark, urging all parties to adhere to the late King’s final wishes to avoid a protracted court battle.
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