Tooro Prime Minister Calls for Calm as King Oyo Succession Dispute Deepens

Tooro Kingdom Prime Minister Omuhikirwa Calvin Armstrong Rwomiire Akiiki has called for calm amid growing disagreements over the succession of the late King Oyo Nyimba Kabamba Iguru Rukidi IV.

Rwomiire urged all parties involved in the succession debate to first allow the kingdom to give the late Omukama a dignified burial before turning their attention to the question of who should inherit the Tooro throne.

The Prime Minister said Tooro is experiencing one of its most difficult moments, with competing positions emerging even before King Oyo has been laid to rest.

“His Majesty Omukama Oyo Nyimba Kabamba Iguru Rukidi IV has passed away, and even before we have laid our King to rest, sharply differing positions have emerged regarding succession,” Rwomiire said.

King Oyo’s Will Raises Succession Questions

The latest tensions follow competing claims over who should become the next King of Tooro.

While one group has announced a successor, other voices have argued that the late King’s wishes must first be examined as part of the succession process.

Rwomiire acknowledged that King Oyo’s will contains his expressed wishes regarding succession, saying the document requires careful examination before the matter is settled.

He questioned whether it was appropriate for the succession debate to dominate public attention while the kingdom remains in mourning.

According to the Prime Minister, the ongoing disagreement risks overshadowing the final farewell to King Oyo, who ruled Tooro for more than three decades.

“Let Us First Bury Our King”

Rwomiire made a direct appeal to those involved in the dispute to put the late monarch’s burial ahead of the contest over the throne.

“Let us first bury our King,” he appealed, stressing that King Oyo’s final journey should be treated with dignity and respect.

He warned that the Tooro Kingdom as an institution is bigger than individual leaders and should not be weakened by disagreements among stakeholders.

The Prime Minister said the succession issue should be addressed after the burial through a process that considers Tooro customs, legal requirements and recognised cultural institutions.

Government Urged Not to Choose Tooro King

Rwomiire also called on the government of President Yoweri Museveni to help maintain peace and order without directly determining who should become the next Omukama.

“This is not a request for Government to choose a King for Tooro,” he said.

He explained that the government’s role should be to provide a peaceful environment in which the relevant cultural and legal processes can take place without intimidation or disorder.

The Prime Minister further suggested that respected elders, cultural leaders and other credible figures could help guide the kingdom through the succession process.

Call for Unity in Tooro

As tensions continue, Rwomiire urged all sides to lower their rhetoric and avoid actions that could deepen divisions among the people of Tooro.

“Tooro is bigger than any one of us, and the Crown is too important to become the prize in a contest conducted in the middle of our mourning,” he said.

He also warned that history would judge how Tooro leaders handle the succession dispute during the mourning period.

The Prime Minister called on all stakeholders to put the interests of the kingdom first, give King Oyo a respectful burial and address the succession question afterwards through a transparent and dignified process.

“For now, let us mourn together. Let us bury our King with honour. Then, with dignity, fairness and respect, let the truth and the proper process guide what comes next,” Rwomiire said.

The appeal comes as the future leadership of Tooro remains a major subject of discussion following the death of King Oyo, with stakeholders facing the delicate task of resolving the succession question while preserving unity within the kingdom.