Uganda bids farewell to King Oyo amid succession dispute
Funeral proceedings for King Oyo Nyimba Kabamba Iguru Rukidi IV of Uganda’s Toro Kingdom are taking place in the western city of Fort Portal. The monarch died of cancer last month at the age of 34, and his death triggered a dispute over his successor. As Deutsche Welle reports, the funeral is being held after the end of a nine-day mourning period.
Funeral in Fort Portal
Oyo’s coffin, draped in the blue-and-yellow Toro flag, was taken from the Karuziika royal palace in a funeral procession. It was accompanied by royal guards in orange tunics, beating wooden sticks.
The ceremony at St. John’s Cathedral was expected to bring together hundreds of people, including senior Ugandan government officials. After the service, the king is to be buried on the grounds of the royal burial sites. By tradition, the heir must throw nine coffee berries into the grave during the burial.
Dispute over the successor
Oyo ascended the throne in 1995 at the age of three and was at one time unofficially considered the world’s youngest king. On Wednesday, a committee that included members of the royal clan proclaimed the late king’s 54-year-old cousin, Edward Rukidi Kijanangoma, as the new king. He works as a news presenter and editor at the state broadcaster UBC.
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At the same time, Oyo’s closest relatives said that his will provided for the throne to pass to a son born out of wedlock who has not yet been identified. Claims also appeared on social media about at least two possible heirs described as children of the late king.
Kijanangoma’s supporters say that the family has still not provided specific information about Oyo’s alleged son. Supporters of tradition also back the selection of an adult monarch. A source familiar with the crisis talks said that authorities on Friday secured Kijanangoma’s official recognition as successor.
Queen Mother Best Kemigisa called on those involved in the dispute to allow the family to mourn and bury her son. Uganda has traditional kingdoms restored in 1993; their monarchs have no formal power and are regarded as custodians of traditional identity and heritage.
