KAMPALA, Uganda (AP) — A news anchor and editor for the state broadcaster Uganda Broadcasting Corporation has been named the next monarch of Uganda’s Tooro Kingdom. Edward Rukidi Kijanangoma, a cousin of the late king, was chosen by a selection committee following the death last month of King Oyo Nyimba Kabamba Iguru Rukidi IV.
The late King Oyo died of cancer at age 34. He will be buried on Saturday in a funeral expected to draw tens of thousands of mourners. King Oyo was unmarried at the time of his death and had no known children, though Ugandan President Yoweri Museveni had asserted that Oyo left a young heir born out of wedlock. The selection committee’s choice of Kijanangoma, who is known as a down-to-earth broadcaster, appears to prioritize continuity and avoid a child monarch.
However, the decision has already met with opposition. Ruth Komuntale, King Oyo’s sister, told local broadcaster NBS that she was “very disappointed” and believes Oyo’s will clearly stated he left behind an heir. She expressed concern that the decision could “provoke a legal challenge” and create division within the kingdom.
Tooro is one of five traditional kingdoms recognized by Uganda’s government, though they do not possess formal sovereignty. The kingdoms were banned after independence from British colonial rule but were restored in 1993. Although they lack political authority and are legally barred from partisan politics, their monarchs serve as cultural guardians.
King Oyo ascended to the throne as an infant in 1995 at the age of three, following his father’s death. He was then considered the world’s youngest king, a title that garnered international attention, including from figures like Nelson Mandela. He was guided by regents until he reached adulthood at 18. Libyan leader Muammar Gaddafi had a notable relationship with the Tooro royal family, offering support for years before his death in 2011.