The dispute over who should succeed in Tooro Kingdom has intensified. Chief Prince (Omusuuga) Charles Kayondo Kamurasi told the Orukurato, the kingdom’s Supreme Council, that Tooro has a new king, even though legal challenges continue.
Omusuuga Kamurasi named Edward Rukidi Nyabongo I as the new Omukama, saying the choice followed Tooro’s cultural traditions and Ugandan law. The Babiito Clan, which leads the traditional succession process, also supports this decision.
The announcement follows the death of Omukama Oyo Nyimba Kabamba Iguru Rukidi IV, who died at the age of 34 and was buried at the Karambi Royal Tombs on September 12th, 2026.
However, the succession remains contested as members of the late king’s family, including Queen Mother Best Kemigisa and Princess Ruth Komuntale, raised questions over a reported 2022 Will said to name King Oyo’s biological son as heir.
The Attorney General, Dr. Sam Mayanja advised President Yoweri Kaguta Museveni to consider the alleged Will when determining succession. The government indicated that Nyabongo’s appointment will not be formally gazetted until the legal dispute is resolved.
The Babiito Clan, however, rejected the Attorney General’s position, arguing that the succession committee followed established Tooro customs and that the alleged heir was not presented during the succession process.
The dispute now places Tooro at a delicate crossroads between customary authority and Uganda’s legal framework. Omusuuga Kamurasi has called for respect for tradition and the law, while President Museveni has called for peace and unity among the Batooro.
The coming legal and traditional decisions will determine whether Edward Rukidi Nyabongo I receives formal recognition as Tooro’s next king.
