Tooro’s Prime Minister demands calm in the face of the succession dispute.

Tooro Kingdom Prime Minister Calvin Armstrong Rwomiire has urged for calm and unity amid escalating tensions surrounding the succession following the death of Omukama Oyo Nyimba Kabamba Iguru Rukidi IV. He emphasized that disputes should not overshadow the king’s burial.

In a statement posted on his official X account on Thursday morning, Rwomiire addressed the conflicting claims regarding the succession. He noted that the announcement of Prince Edward Rukidi Kijanangoma as the new king, along with assertions that the late Omukama left a will naming his preferred heir, risks deepening divisions within the kingdom during a time of mourning.

While Rwomiire recognized the seriousness of the succession question that will eventually need to be addressed, he questioned the appropriateness of resolving it before King Oyo’s burial. His remarks followed the decision by a 21-member committee from the Babiito royal clan, which announced Prince Edward Rukidi Kijanangoma as the new monarch.

This announcement was met with immediate rejection from some royal family members, including Princess Royal Ruth Nsemere Komuntale and Princess Elizabeth Bagaya. They claimed that King Oyo had left a will expressing his wishes regarding succession, with Komuntale arguing that the Babiito should have honored her late brother’s wishes.

Rwomiire stated that the ongoing disagreement should not overshadow the burial of King Oyo, whose remains are scheduled to be interred at the Karambi Royal Tombs in Fort Portal on Saturday. He reiterated that there would be time after the burial to discuss the alleged will, consider differing views, evaluate the customs and traditions of Tooro, along with relevant laws, and allow proper cultural and legal institutions to determine the succession.

The Prime Minister also called upon the Government of Uganda for guidance and support to maintain peace and order during this sensitive period. He clarified that this appeal should not be viewed as a request for the government to choose a king for Tooro. Instead, he encouraged the government to facilitate an environment in which the cultural, legal, and institutional processes can be conducted peacefully and fairly.