While the eyes of the royal world remain fixed on Norway with the death of King Harald and the start of his son Haakon’s reign, a remote corner of Africa is living its own, bustling succession to the throne. Oyo Nyimba Kabamba Iguru Rukidi IV, the youngest monarch in the world, who was only three years old when he ascended the throne, has died at 34. Oyo became in 1995 the king of Tooro, to the west of Uganda, after his father’s death. His passing was announced by Prime Minister Calvin Rwomiire Akiiki, although the cause of death was not disclosed.
The Ugandan government had previously announced that the young king was in critical condition and had undergone medical treatment in the United States. Tooro is one of the ancient kingdoms of this country located in the African Great Lakes region. Prohibited after independence from British colonial rule, Uganda’s traditional kingdoms were restored in 1993. Although they lack political authority and are legally not allowed to participate in politics, the monarchs wield significant cultural influence.
The capital of the kingdom of Tooro is a remote city in western Uganda, near the border with the Congo and its inhabitants are known as the batooro. Oyo, who appeared in the Guinness World Records as the world’s youngest reigning monarch, ruled over a population of more than two million people after the death of his father, Olimi Tooro. His death caused a great upheaval for many Ugandans, who were unaware of his illness.
Following his proclamation, he ruled his people through regents until he came of age. The Libyan colonel Muammar Gaddafi was one of the world leaders who befriended the Tooro royal family and made multiple trips to Tooro. King Oyo enjoyed great respect among his people and promoted youth empowerment, education, climate issues, and HIV/AIDS awareness.
The mystery of King Oyo’s succession
Oyo, the thirteenth monarch of a kingdom founded in 1830, never married. But in the announcement of his death, the Tooro prime minister revealed that there existed an heir to the throne. «The continuity of the Crown is assured», said Calvin Rwomiire Akiiki. «His Majesty leaves behind to a prince as heir, whose identity will be formally revealed at the appropriate moment, in accordance with the traditions and customs of our kingdom».
Prime Minister Calvin Rwomiire Akiiki.
This information was endorsed by Uganda’s own president, Yoweri Museveni. However, according to the local press, the monarch’s death has sparked a division among Tooro’s leaders, who doubt the existence of such an heir. In statements to The Daily Monitor, Charles Kayondo Kamurasi – head of the Babiito royal clan – affirmed that his people had no knowledge of any biological heir.
“The king had no children. I don’t know anything about it because nothing like that has ever been told to us. I heard the prime minister, when announcing Oyo’s death, say that he had left an heir,” Kamurasi said. “Moreover, he has no right or authority to make such an announcement, since he is not a member of the royal family. I don’t know where he got that information from. He must have some source. But what source? We do not know.”
The council of elders holds the key
The Babiito royal clan, the dominant and historic royal dynasty of the traditional kingdoms of Bunyoro-Kitara and Tooro, has strong ties to the throne. That is why Kamurasi has already announced the formation of a 21-member committee, made up of the clan’s elders, to assess the credibility of the succession claims and oversee the traditional process of appointing the next monarch.
“We will hold a meeting, but at this moment I cannot disclose all information to the press. Those who are closest to the circle know what is happening,” the clan leader said, according to The Daily Monitor. “The new king will be chosen among the current princes. As members of the royal clan, we will have to sit down and resolve this matter,” Kamurasi added, whose aim is to prevent the Tooro people from being divided by the crisis or ending up in the courts.
