news 10 September 2026 Daily Monitor (Uganda)
Tooro Kingdom Seeks Government Guidance Amid Succession Dispute
Tooro Kingdom's Prime Minister, Calvin Armstrong Rwomiire, has appealed to the Ugandan government for support in navigating a deepening succession row following the death of Omukama Oyo Nyimba Kabamba Iguru Rukidi IV. Rwomiire emphasized the need for fair cultural and legal processes without government interference in choosing the next king. Source: https://www.monitor.co.ug/uganda/news/national/tooro-pm-calls-for-gov-t-guidance-amid-succession-row-5590152
The Tooro Kingdom is facing a significant challenge as a dispute over the succession of the late Omukama Oyo Nyimba Kabamba Iguru Rukidi IV escalates. Prime Minister Calvin Armstrong Rwomiire has publicly called on the Ugandan government to provide guidance and ensure peace and order during this delicate period.
Rwomiire clarified that the appeal is not for the government to select the next king, but rather to help establish conditions that allow for peaceful, fair, and orderly cultural, legal, and institutional processes to unfold. This statement comes after the Babiito royal clan announced Prince Edward Rukidi Kijanangoma as the new Omukama, a decision contested by members of the late king’s family who claim Oyo left a will detailing his succession wishes.
Acknowledging the divided stances, the Prime Minister described the situation as one of the most painful and delicate moments in the kingdom’s history. He urged all parties to pause the succession contest until after Omukama Oyo’s burial, scheduled for September 12, 2026. He questioned the appropriateness of the current timing and manner of the succession announcement, emphasizing the need to honor the late king’s final journey.
Rwomiire assured that the Tooro crown has endured for generations and will survive this dispute. He cautioned against allowing the succession debate to overshadow the royal family’s grief, compromise the dignity of Oyo’s passing, or disrupt the kingdom’s unity and peace. He proposed that after the burial, there would be ample time to review Oyo’s will, consider all viewpoints, and deliberate on Tooro’s customs, relevant laws, and the institutions responsible for succession.
As preparations for the burial at the Karambi Royal Tombs continue, Rwomiire implored the people of Tooro to de-escalate tensions and avoid confrontation. He expressed hope that history would record that in their time of grief and disagreement, the people of Tooro chose restraint and their leaders opted for wisdom over conflict, thereby granting His Majesty the dignity of rest before addressing the future of his crown.