Petition Filed to Halt Tooro Coronation Amid Succession Dispute

On the eve of a significant royal ceremony, a legal challenge has emerged in the Tooro Kingdom. A group, including two Batooro individuals, Derick Alitugabira and Juliet Kangume, alongside the civil society organization Walezi Wa Katiba, has petitioned the High Court in Fort Portal.

They are urgently seeking temporary court orders to halt the planned enthronement of Prince Edward Rukidi Nyabongo I, scheduled for September 29, 2026. The petition argues that proceeding with the ceremony before a substantive case challenging Prince Nyabongo’s selection is resolved could lead to irreversible consequences.

The core of the dispute appears to revolve around an alleged Will left by the late Omukama Oyo Nyimba Kabamba Iguru Rukidi IV. The applicants claim this document outlines a specific line of succession, naming the late monarch’s son as the preferred heir, with a cousin as the next in line if the son were unavailable.

They contend that the selection process for Prince Nyabongo did not adhere to the wishes stipulated in this alleged Will. The petition also names former Tooro Queen Mother Best Kemigisa as a respondent, referencing her past statements that reportedly acknowledged the late King having a son.

Walezi Wa Katiba stated that its involvement stems from its mandate to promote constitutional governance and the rule of law, viewing the kingdom’s authority transfer as a matter of public interest. The applicants aim to maintain the status quo and prevent the enthronement until the succession dispute is fully adjudicated.

As of the time of reporting, the High Court in Fort Portal had not yet heard or ruled on this emergency application, leaving the coronation’s fate uncertain.

Source: Nile Post