The body of King Oyo, the world's youngest traditional monarch, has returned to Uganda for burial, following his death in the United States last week at the age of 34. He had been receiving treatment for an aggressive form of cancer. His passing has brought to the forefront an unexpected public disagreement among senior figures within the Tooro kingdom regarding his successor.
Prime Minister Robinah Nabbanja described the late king as a "symbol of unity" and lauded his efforts in raising awareness about HIV and Aids among young people. Opposition Members of Parliament also paid tribute, with acting opposition leader Patrick Nsamba Oshabe stating, "Heritage and development were never rivals in his hands." President Yoweri Museveni has ordered an official burial for the monarch and declared that national flags will fly at half-mast for three days.
<![CDATA[IMAGE6]]>The Tooro kingdom's Prime Minister, Calvin Armstrong Rwomiire Akiiki, revealed that the king had instructed officials not to disclose the severity of his illness, as he believed he would recover and return to his people. Akiiki added that the monarch had hoped to be present for this year's Empango, the annual celebration of his coronation, on September 12. "He was confident in his recovery," Akiiki said.
<![CDATA[IMAGE4]]>However, King Oyo's death has created uncertainty over the future of the monarchy, partly because he was not officially married. Prime Minister Akiiki has stated that the king had a young son, whose identity will be revealed later in accordance with Tooro customs. President Museveni also confirmed that the king's mother, Queen Best Kemigisa, had informed him that her son had left an heir.
This assertion has been publicly questioned by Charles Kamurasi, the head of the Babiito royal clan, the traditional body from which Tooro's kings are chosen. Kamurasi stated he had no knowledge of any child, leading to a rare public rift. Other members of the royal clan have also expressed surprise at the reported existence of an heir, with one clan member quoted by Uganda's state-owned New Vision newspaper questioning the Prime Minister's knowledge. "The prime minister is not supposed to talk about the king's heir. It is a cultural process," the clan member said. "How can we, blood relatives, not know of the child, and the prime minister says he knows? That is totally out of order."
<![CDATA[IMAGE10]]>Prime Minister Akiiki has since appealed for the dispute to be handled privately, expressing a desire to meet with other elders to resolve their differences. "Words spoken in moments of grief can deepen divisions that may take years to repair," he cautioned.