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Tooro Kingdom succession drama deepens as Queen Mother says palace surrounded by UPDF soldiers
10th September, 2026 02:50 PM
Tooro Kingdom’s succession drama has deepened after Queen Mother Best Kemigisa claimed that royal guards were removed from the palace and replaced by troops just days before the burial of her son, the late King Oyo.
In a letter released on Thursday, September 10, 2026, Kemigisa said General Kayanja Muhanga went to the palace three days before Oyo’s burial and removed the royal guards without notice, with troops subsequently deployed around the palace.
“Now, three days to my son’s burial, Gen. Kayanja Muhanga came to the Palace and removed the royal guards without notice, and troops,” she said.
The claim adds a dramatic new chapter to the succession dispute that erupted following Oyo’s death on August 27, with the late King’s family and sections of the Babiito clan divided over who should inherit the Tooro throne.
Kemigisa said the latest developments came as the family was still preparing to lay her only son to rest after his death at the age of 34.
She also revealed that the succession dispute began unfolding even before the family could reach Fort Portal for the burial preparations.
According to Kemigisa, the family had reached Kyenjojo when media personality Andrew Mwenda announced that a group of clan members had chosen another King.
“But before we could even reach Fort Portal (we had reached Kyenjojo), Andrew Mwenda announced that a self-appointed group of clan members had chosen another King. Not one of them had called me to say sorry for the loss of my son or ask about his will or plans King Oyo had left,” she said.
The Queen Mother questioned the decision to select another ruler at a time when the family was still preparing to bury Oyo, saying none of the clan members involved had contacted her to discuss the late King’s wishes.
The dispute has revived memories of another succession battle that Kemigisa said she faced when Oyo was only three years old.
She recalled that she was 26 when her husband, Omukama Patrick, died while she was in the United Kingdom receiving treatment for their young daughter Cecilia.
“I was 26 when my husband died. I was in the UK treating my young daughter Cecilia. Oyo was only 2 years old,” she said.
Kemigisa said she returned home expecting to bury her husband and grieve, only to find herself fighting to secure her young son’s right to inherit the throne.
She said members of the Babiito clan argued that Oyo was too young to become King and claimed that his father had left no will naming him as successor.
She added that the clan members wanted Oyo’s uncle to take the throne based on the will of Omukama Rukiidi, prompting the family to go to court.
“I came home to bury my husband, Omukama Patrick, and grieve, but instead we immediately had to fight for my son’s right to be King. The same Babiito clan members said he was too young at 3 years old to be king and that his father, Omukama Patrick, had left no will naming him successor, so his uncle should take the throne according to the will of Omukama Rukiidi. We went to court, and my King Oyo prevailed,” she said.
Oyo eventually remained on the throne and went on to serve Tooro for 31 years, with Kemigisa reflecting on the relationships he built during his long reign.
“By the grace of God, my son went on to serve Tooro for 31 years. He made friends across Uganda and around the world. The people loved him and stood with him; the President supported him, and together they built Tooro Kingdom into what it is today,” she said.
Kemigisa also reflected on another devastating loss suffered by her family when her daughter died of leukaemia.
She said the same clan leaders now involved in the succession dispute did not visit the family or assist with her daughter’s burial.
“A couple of years later, I lost my daughter to leukaemia. None of these clan leaders you saw today came to see us or helped us bury her,” she said.
Tooro succession drama
Oyo had ruled Tooro since 1995, when he became King at only three years old and gained international recognition as the world’s youngest reigning monarch.
After his death, questions quickly emerged over who would succeed him. On September 1, the Babiito royal clan demanded that the reported son of Oyo be presented for verification before any succession arrangements were made, saying the clan had not previously known about the child.
The issue then intensified as Oyo’s family and kingdom officials maintained that the late monarch had left an heir, while the clan leadership questioned whether the reported child had been formally recognised under Tooro customs.
The dispute took another dramatic turn on September 9 when the royal succession committee selected Prince Edward Rukidi Kijanangoma as the new Tooro monarch, despite the continuing disagreement over Oyo’s reported heir.
The following day, September 10, Kemigisa challenged the succession decision and described the events at the palace, including the removal of royal guards and deployment of troops, as her family prepared to bury Oyo.
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Steve Ireri
Steve is a senior writer with over four years of experience in digital journalism. His focus is on the showbiz and human interest stories. Emails: [email protected] , [email protected]
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