Queen Mother of Tooro, Her Majesty Best Kemigisa, has appealed to President Yoweri Museveni and the Uganda People’s Defence Forces (UPDF) leadership to allow the royal family to mourn and bury the late Omukama Oyo Nyimba Kabamba Iguru Rukidi IV in peace.

In a statement, Queen Mother Kemigisa said the royal family had been placed under what she described as “house arrest” following the deployment of security personnel around the palace and the removal of royal guards.

She appealed specifically to Gen Kayanja Muhanga, the UPDF leadership and President Museveni to restore the family’s freedom to mourn and receive mourners ahead of King Oyo’s burial.

Queen Mother Kemigisa recounted the challenges she faced following the death of her husband, Omukama Patrick Matthew Kaboyo Olimi III, saying she was only 26 years old and was in the United Kingdom receiving treatment for her young daughter, Cecilia, when her husband died.

She returned to Uganda to bury her husband, but said she was immediately forced to fight for her two-year-old son’s right to succeed his father as King.

According to Kemigisa, some members of the Babiito clan argued that Oyo was too young to become king and claimed that his late father had left no will naming him as successor.

She said the matter ended up in court, where Oyo ultimately prevailed and became Omukama.

Kemigisa said she later lost her daughter to leukemia, adding that none of the clan leaders involved in the current succession dispute came to support the family during the bereavement.

She said King Oyo went on to serve Tooro for 31 years, building relationships across Uganda and internationally while receiving support from President Museveni and the people of Tooro.
“On 27th August, I lost my only son, King Oyo, to cancer,” she said.

Kemigisa said President Museveni had made efforts to ensure that Oyo’s remains were returned to Tooro with the dignity befitting a king. She also thanked the UPDF engineering brigade and the Chief of Defence Forces for supporting preparations at the royal burial grounds.

However, she said tensions escalated after some Babiito clan members reportedly announced the selection of another king before Oyo’s burial.

She further claimed that Gen Muhanga later went to the palace and removed the royal guards without prior notice, after which troops were deployed around the palace.

Kemigisa said Oyo’s will was subsequently read at 4pm in the presence of members of the royal family and government representatives, including Princess Ruth Komuntale, Princess Margaret Komubaizi, Monsignor Father Mayombo and Maj Gen Henry Tumukunde, who represented the President.

She said the will clearly provided for the order of succession to the Tooro throne and that the parties agreed to meet again under Gen Tumukunde’s chairmanship.

However, Kemigisa said the same evening, some clan members held a press conference and announced their own king, despite the discussions surrounding Oyo’s will.

She condemned the timing of the announcement, saying the family was still mourning with Oyo’s body lying in the casket nearby.
“That is what has hurt us most. My daughter is devastated. Our family is grieving,” she said.

Kemigisa urged those involved in the succession dispute to temporarily set aside their differences and allow the royal family to bury King Oyo.
“I also appeal to those fighting over the throne: please, there will be time for all of that. Let us grieve and bury my son King Oyo,” she said.

She described Oyo as a good son and king who loved Tooro and served its people for 31 years.
“Most importantly, he served God. He has gone to be with the Lord. Please allow us to send him home with the dignity and respect he deserves,” she said.