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The Tooro Kingdom Royal Succession Committee has explained why the reported children of the late Omukama Oyo Nyimba Kabamba Iguru Rukidi IV were not considered during the process of selecting his successor.
The explanation comes amid growing public discussion over the future of the Tooro throne following the death of King Oyo and the eventual selection of Prince Edward Rukidi Kijanangoma as the new Omukama of Tooro.
Fr. Dr Charles Oyo Amooti, a member of the 21-member Royal Succession Committee, said the Babiito clan could not rely on public claims about children whose recognition had not followed the traditional procedures of the kingdom.
According to Fr. Oyo, the succession process in Tooro is guided by cultural traditions that require a child born into the royal family to be formally introduced to elders and recognised through established ceremonies.
He explained that the clan does not make decisions based on information circulating in public but instead follows the cultural structures that have guided the kingdom for generations.
“We have heard some people talk about the child or the children of King Oyo, but we as members of the clan don’t pick information from the way,” Fr. Oyo said during an interview with NTV Uganda.
He added that in Tooro culture, when a child is born, the child is presented to elders who perform traditional rituals and ceremonies that formally introduce the child to the community.
Fr. Oyo said that beyond recognition, children who may one day be considered for leadership roles in the kingdom are expected to undergo preparation and upbringing that equips them with knowledge about royal responsibilities.
He explained that a future leader of the kingdom is traditionally guided through different stages of growth, learning and training before being considered capable of carrying the responsibilities of the throne.
The remarks were made as questions continued to emerge over why succession did not automatically move to any reported child of the late King Oyo.
The debate gained attention after President Yoweri Museveni revealed that Queen Mother Best Kemigisa had informed him that King Oyo left behind a young son.
However, the Tooro Kingdom has not publicly confirmed reports about the identity or status of the child mentioned in public discussions.
Additional reports also circulated claiming that the late monarch had other children, including a 10-year-old boy, although those claims have not been officially verified by the kingdom.
The succession issue became more intense as members of the Babiito clan began consultations to determine who would succeed King Oyo.
The clan initially selected Prince George Desmond Kamurasi as its preferred candidate for the throne, but reports indicated that he later declined the position.
Following that development, the Babiito Royal Clan returned to the succession process and selected Prince Edward Rukidi Kijanangoma as the next Omukama of Tooro.
Prince Edward Kijanangoma is a member of the Tooro royal family and the son of the late Prince Christopher Paul Kijanangoma. He is also the grandson of Omukama Sir George David Rukidi III.
The succession committee said the decision was based on Tooro’s traditional succession arrangements and considerations linked to the wishes expressed in the will of the late Omukama Patrick Matthew Kaboyo II.
The selection of Edward Kijanangoma has, however, continued to attract debate among members of the royal family and the public, with different views being expressed about the succession process.
Supporters of the decision argue that the Babiito clan followed cultural procedures in identifying the next king, while others have continued to raise questions about the possible role of King Oyo’s reported children.
The committee has maintained that the Tooro throne cannot be determined by public claims alone and that succession must follow the traditions and structures recognised by the kingdom.
As preparations continue for the installation of the new Omukama, attention remains focused on how the kingdom will handle the concerns raised by different members of the royal family.
The succession of Tooro’s next king therefore remains one of the most closely watched cultural developments in Uganda, with the kingdom seeking to balance tradition, continuity and the future of the monarchy.
