King Oyo of Uganda death: World’s youngest monarch laid to rest in funeral as succession battle erupts

Uganda’s King Oyo Nyimba Kabamba Iguru Rukidi IV, who captured global attention in 1995 when he ascended the throne of the Tooro Kingdom at three years old, has been laid to rest in his homeland.

His death at age 34 triggered a bitter succession battle between a committee made up of members of the royal clan and his immediate family.

A funeral was held for King Oyo in the western city of Fort Portal on Saturday, where thousands of people gathered to conclude a nine-day period of mourning.

The casket carrying the monarch’s body was draped in the blue-and-yellow Tooro flag. The hearse made its way from the royal palace in Fort Portal in a procession, accompanied by royal guards dressed in orange tunics.

The ceremony took place in St John’s Cathedral and was attended by hundreds of mourners, including senior Ugandan government officials. After the service the late king was buried at the site of the royal tombs.

“He had a gift to make people laugh,” his sister, Princess Ruth Komuntale, said at the burial ceremony. “He always knew how to brighten my day.”

On Wednesday, a committee made up of members of the royal clan announced it had chosen Oyo’s cousin, Edward Rukidi Kijanangoma, as the new king.

Kijanangoma, 54, is a news anchor and editor at state broadcaster UBC. However, the immediate family of the late king have called for the king’s son born out of wedlock, who has not been identified, to succeed him.

Besides the throne, the new king will inherit a considerable royal estate including swaths of land and sizeable cash payouts from the central government.

It has since been reported Kijanangoma has been formally accepted as successor, and he cast coffee beans into the late king’s grave, as is tradition.

Still, social media is alight with claims of two possible heirs alleged to be Oyo’s children. The king never married.

Queen Mother Best Kemigisa said in a statement that the succession battle undermined the family’s ability to mourn the king’s death.

“I also appeal to those fighting over the throne: please, there will be time for all of that,” she said. “Let us grieve and bury my son King Oyo.”

The monarchs of such kingdoms are often beloved but hold no formal power. Instead, they are seen as guardians of traditional identity and heritage. The country is led by both a president and prime ministers because the roles split executive leadership and administrative duties under the country’s constitutional framework.

Yoweri Museveni, 81, serves as the President of Uganda and was sworn in for a record seventh consecutive term earlier this year.

Uganda’s Prime Minister is Robinah Nabbanja who has been sworn in for a second term. And Tooro has its own prime minister, Calvin Armstrong Rwomiire Akiiki.

King Oyo IV died of cancer while receiving medical treatment in the United States. He ruled over two million people in the Tooro kingdom, in western Uganda and was named by the Guinness World Records list as the world’s youngest reigning monarch.

Akiiki described the death of King Oro as an “immeasurable loss” to the royal family and the people of Tooro.

“I call upon all the people of Tooro to remain united, calm and prayerful during this profoundly difficult time,” Akiiki said on Friday.

“May His Majesty the King rest in eternal peace.”