The Babiito royal clan of Tooro Kingdom has rejected the Attorney General’s advice that the purported will of the late Omukama Oyo Nyimba Kabamba Iguru Rukidi IV should guide the succession process, arguing that the legal opinion was addressed to President Yoweri Kaguta Museveni and does not direct the clan to take any action.
Attorney General Dr Sam Mayanja, in a three-page legal opinion dated September 12 and addressed to President Museveni, advised that King Oyo’s purported will should be followed, arguing that its validity can only be challenged in a court of law.
Dr Mayanja also questioned the legal mandate of the 21-member committee constituted by the Babiito royal clan to select Oyo’s successor, arguing that the committee had no legal mandate to appoint a traditional or cultural leader.
The opinion was issued amid a dispute over the succession to King Oyo, who died on August 27 at the age of 34 while receiving treatment in the United States. He was buried on September 12 at the Karambi Royal Burial Grounds in Fort Portal.
Speaking at a briefing today, Fr Charles Oyo, spokesperson for the Babiito royal clan, said the Attorney General’s opinion was not addressed to the clan and therefore did not require the Babiito to act on it.
He added that the Babiito do not consider themselves to be in a succession dispute, contrary to the position presented in the Attorney General’s opinion.
Fr Oyo maintained that the 21-member committee was established in accordance with Tooro customs and traditions to handle the succession process following King Oyo’s death.
The committee subsequently selected and announced Prince Edward Rukidi Kijanangoma as Oyo’s successor. However, the decision was rejected by members of the royal family, including Queen Mother Best Kemigisa, Princess Ruth Komuntale Nsemere and Princess Elizabeth Bagaya.
The royal family has maintained that King Oyo left a will providing for his son to succeed him, provided he had a legally recognised son.
The purported will also names Yoweri Komwiswa and Solomon Nyaika, both sons of Musuuga Charles Kamurasi, as alternative heirs if Oyo’s son is incapacitated or unable to assume the throne.
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