Tooro’s Queen Mother, Best Kemigisa, has revealed that the late King Oyo Nyimba Kabamba Iguru Rukidi IV left behind a son who lives in the United States.
Kemigisa made the revelation while thanking people who stood by her family during the difficult period following the death and burial of her only son.
She said the family had initially hoped to bring Oyo’s child back to Uganda from Texas for his father’s burial.
“Before leaving Texas, our family had hoped that King Oyo’s child would return on the same plane with us. However, as events unfolded in Tooro, concerns grew about bringing a child into a tense and polarised succession dispute. Ultimately, the child did not return with us,” Kemigisa said.
She said the decision to leave the child in the United States left her deeply saddened, stressing that no child should be exposed to hostility arising from succession disagreements.
“Whatever disagreements existed, no child should ever be placed in circumstances where returning to his father’s homeland could mean being drawn into hostility and conflict,” she said.
The Queen Mother also criticised the timing of the succession process, accusing those involved of rushing to choose a new king before Oyo had been laid to rest.
Kemigisa said her wish had been for her son to first be buried peacefully and with dignity before questions of succession were addressed.
“Throughout this painful period, I had one simple wish: let us first bury my son peacefully and with dignity. Let a mother mourn her child. Let Tooro mourn its King. Then, when he has been laid to rest, let questions of succession be addressed calmly, lawfully and respectfully,” she said.
She, however, said a committee to choose a new king was formed only hours after Oyo’s death.
“Unfortunately, that was not the experience we had. Only hours after my son’s death, a committee was started to choose a new king. While my son’s body was still making its journey home to Tooro, a new king was announced,” she said.
Kemigisa said another king was announced a few days later, while Oyo’s burial was still pending.
“A couple of days after we reached Karuziika Palace, and with my son’s burial still ahead of us, another announcement of a second king was made immediately after the Will of King Oyo was read to members of the Royal Family, Musuga and representatives of the Babiito Clan,” she said.
She said the developments were particularly painful because celebrations took place near where Oyo’s body lay.
“Loud celebrations took place only metres from where my son’s body lay. As a mother, that was extraordinarily painful,” Kemigisa said.
Despite the events surrounding the succession, the Queen Mother said she did not want anger to define Tooro’s future.
“But today, I do not want anger to have the final word. I want gratitude, faith, hope and service to have the final word,” she said.
Kemigisa said she and her daughter, Princess Ruth Komuntale, would continue working to protect and build King Oyo’s legacy through the King Oyo Memorial Foundation.
She said the foundation would pursue proposed projects, including a museum, an international stadium, a teaching and research hospital and a model farm.
