King Oyo Nyimba Kabamba Iguru Rukidi IV was buried at the Karambi Royal Tombs in western Uganda on Sept. 12 as the Tooro Kingdom sought to put a bitter succession dispute behind it. Edward Rukidi Kijanangoma, chosen by a royal clan committee, performed a ritual marking the handover, though Oyo's immediate family says an alleged son named in the late king's will should succeed him. The funeral — held 31 years after Oyo's coronation — drew thousands, and church leaders urged unity. Oyo was remembered as a U.N. goodwill ambassador and an active campaigner on HIV/AIDS.
King Oyo Laid To Rest In Uganda As Succession Dispute Persists
FILE PHOTO: The flag-draped coffin with the body of King Oyo Nyimba Kabamba Iguru Rukidi IV, of the Tooro Kingdom, who died in late August aged 34 while receiving treatment in the U.S., during a ceremony at the Entebbe International Airport, in Entebbe, Uganda September 4, 2026. REUTERS/Abubaker Lubowa/File Photo
King Oyo Nyimba Kabamba Iguru Rukidi IV was laid to rest on Sept. 12 at the Karambi Royal Tombs in western Uganda, returning to the burial ground of his ancestors as the Tooro Kingdom sought to move beyond a bitter succession dispute.
At the royal tombs, Edward Rukidi Kijanangoma — a news anchor and editor at state broadcaster UBC who was chosen by a royal clan committee — performed a traditional ritual by casting nine coffee berries into the grave, symbolising the formal transfer of authority.
A Royal guard walks to the entrance of the Karuziika Royal Palace, where the body of the late Omukama of Tooro lies in state during a nine-day official mourning period ahead of burial at the Karambi Royal Tombs, in Fort Portal, Kabarole District, Uganda, September 11, 2026. REUTERS/Abubaker Lubowa
Oyo first captured global attention in 1995 when he ascended the throne at age three; images of the toddler king in crown and robes made him a widely recognised figure. He died last month in the United States at 34 while receiving treatment for cancer.
Although Uganda is governed by an elected president, several pre-colonial kingdoms such as Tooro continue as important custodians of cultural identity and tradition.
Mourners queue to pay homage to the late Omukama of Tooro, King Oyo Nyimba Kabamba Iguru Rukidi IV, outside the Karuziika Royal Palace where the body is lying in state during a nine-day official mourning period ahead of his burial at the Karambi Royal Tombs, in Fort Portal, Uganda September 11, 2026. REUTERS/Abubaker Lubowa
At a church service before the burial, Oyo — who served as a U.N. goodwill ambassador and campaigned publicly on HIV/AIDS awareness — was remembered as reserved but warm. "Although he became king and carried responsibilities far beyond what most people ever experience, he never completely lost the young boy who loved to have fun," said his sister, Ruth Komuntale.
Royal guards in orange shawls escorted the hearse through the streets of Fort Portal, and thousands of mourners joined the procession on foot as the casket was taken to the ancestral tombs.
Merchandise with the branding of the late Omukama of Tooro, King Oyo Nyimba Kabamba Iguru Rukidi IV, are displayed for sale outside the Karuziika Royal Palace where the body is lying in state during a nine-day official mourning period ahead of his burial at the Karambi Royal Tombs, in Fort Portal, Uganda September 11, 2026. REUTERS/Abubaker Lubowa
Succession Row Casts Shadow Over Funeral
The burial, held 31 years to the day after Oyo's coronation, followed days of public disagreement within the often fractious royal family. A committee of royal clan members announced that they had selected Oyo's cousin, 56-year-old Edward Rukidi Kijanangoma, as the new king. Supporters of his claim describe him as quiet and humble.
Oyo's immediate family has insisted that an alleged son named in the late king's will should inherit the throne. Supporters of Kijanangoma's succession say the family has not produced verifiable information about the purported son. A source familiar with crisis talks said Ugandan authorities had effectively pressed ahead with Kijanangoma's accession; government spokespeople were not available for comment.
Inspector General of Police Abbas Byakagaba arrives at the Karuziika Royal Palace, where the body of the late Omukama of Tooro lies in state during a nine-day official mourning period ahead of burial at the Karambi Royal Tombs, in Fort Portal, Kabarole District, Uganda, September 11, 2026. REUTERS/Abubaker Lubowa
'Words spoken in grief can cause pain, division and conflict. It can even destroy the legacy of the king we are mourning.'
Stephen Kazimba Mugalu, the Archbishop of the Church of Uganda, used the funeral to urge calm and reconciliation among rival factions.
Legacy And Inheritance
Oyo himself had taken the throne after a protracted succession dispute that was ultimately settled in court. Throughout his reign he combined ceremonial duties with public-health advocacy, notably campaigning against HIV and AIDS. He also cultivated a relationship with former Libyan leader Muammar Gaddafi, naming him a special adviser and accepting contributions that helped renovate the royal palace.
The new monarch stands to inherit considerable royal holdings, including large tracts of land and regular cash allowances from the central government that support the kingdom's operations.
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