REVEALED! The Three Men Who Omukama Oyo Chose to Succeed Him as King of Tooro Four Years Before His Death

FORT PORTAL — Four years before his death, the late Omukama Rukirabasaija Oyo Nyimba Kabamba Iguru Rukidi IV had already set out, in writing, whom he wanted to inherit the throne of the Tooro Kingdom should he die without a son capable of succeeding him.

The succession provision is contained in his Last Will and Testament, made and executed at Karuziika Palace in Fort Portal on September 14, 2022.

The document establishes a clear order of succession, beginning with a legally recognised biological son and, in the absence of such a son able to take the throne, naming two of Oyo’s cousins as successors.

In the relevant section headed “Appointment of My Heir and Successor to the Crown,” Oyo first provided for the possibility that he would leave behind a son.

“I hereby declare and direct that if, at the date of my death, I am survived by a Son lawfully recognized as my biological Son, I appoint him as my heir to the Throne of the Kingdom of Tooro.”

Oyo further stated that such succession would be carried out in accordance with Section 4 of the Institution of Traditional or Cultural Leaders Act, 2011, as well as the customs and traditions of the Tooro Kingdom.

But the late king did not stop there.

He also made specific provisions for what would happen if he died without a son able to assume the throne — or if his son was unable to do so.

Prince Komwiswa Yoweri named first in line

Oyo’s first named alternative successor was his cousin, Prince Komwiswa Yoweri, the son of Musuga Charles Kamurasi Akiiki.

The will states:

“If at the time of my death I have no son able to succeed me, or if my son dies before he can assume the Throne, is permanently incapacitated, or is otherwise unable to succeed or assume the duties and responsibilities of the Throne, then My Cousin Prince Komwiswa Yoweri, son of Musuga Charles Kamurasi Akiiki, shall be my heir and successor to the Throne as Omukama of Tooro.”

The wording is significant because Oyo did not merely identify Prince Komwiswa Yoweri as a possible candidate.

He expressly described him as his “heir and successor to the Throne as Omukama of Tooro” under the circumstances outlined in the will.

The provision also anticipated the possibility that Komwiswa himself might be unable to take up the responsibilities of the crown.

Prince Nyaika Solomon named next

Oyo then identified another cousin as the next person in the succession order.

The will provides:

“If Komwiswa Yoweri is unable to succeed or assume the throne, then succession shall pass next to my cousin Prince Nyaika Solomon, son of Musuga Charles Kamurasi Akiiki my paternal uncle.”

Prince Nyaika Solomon was therefore named as the second alternative successor after Prince Komwiswa Yoweri.

The document consequently established a succession sequence: first, a lawfully recognised biological son capable of succeeding; failing that, Prince Komwiswa Yoweri; and if Komwiswa could not assume the throne, Prince Nyaika Solomon.

Oyo wanted a peaceful succession

The late king also expressly addressed how the succession should be handled.

In Article 10.3 of the will, he wrote:

“I desire that the succession provided for in this Article be recognised and implemented peacefully and with dignity.”

He tied that process to the same legal and traditional framework, adding that it should be conducted:

“in accordance with the Institution of Traditional or Cultural Leaders Act, 2011 and customs and traditions of the Tooro Kingdom.”

Oyo also specified how his successor was to be installed.

“The installation of my successor shall be undertaken in accordance with the customs and traditions of the Tooro Kingdom and the Institution of Traditional or Cultural Leaders Act, 2011.”

The provisions show that Oyo’s instructions were not limited to identifying an heir. He also expressed his wishes regarding the manner in which the transition should take place.

A message to the man who would wear the crown

Oyo concluded his succession provision with a direct message to whoever would eventually inherit the crown.

“I commend my successor to Almighty God and to the people of Tooro.”

He then set out the qualities he expected of the future king:

“May he reign with wisdom, humility, Justice, courage and compassion.”

The late Omukama further instructed his successor to safeguard the kingdom’s identity and cohesion.

“May he protect the dignity and unity of the Kingdom.”

And he left a final reminder about the meaning of kingship:

“May he remember always that leadership is stewardship and that the Crown exists in service to the people.”

Provision for regency and guardianship

The will also contained a separate provision dealing with the possibility that circumstances following Oyo’s death could require an interim arrangement.

Article 11.1 states:

“Where circumstances following my death require a regency, guardianship, advisory council or transitional arrangement, I desire that those entrusted with such responsibility act collectively and solely for the stability, dignity and continuity of the Institution.”

The provision therefore contemplated circumstances in which the transition might require a regency, guardianship, advisory council or another transitional mechanism.

It directed those entrusted with such responsibilities to act collectively and placed the stability and continuity of the institution at the centre of the arrangement.

The succession question after Oyo

The contents of the 2022 will come against the backdrop of the succession uncertainty that followed Oyo’s death.

Oyo, who became Tooro’s Omukama as a child and reigned for decades, died after a period of illness, leaving the kingdom facing the question of who would occupy the throne.

The succession debate subsequently involved members of the Babiito royal clan and competing interpretations of the kingdom’s traditional succession arrangements.

The newly revealed will provides a written record of Oyo’s own instructions on the matter, including the names of Prince Komwiswa Yoweri and Prince Nyaika Solomon as the two alternative successors he personally identified in the event that a son could not take the throne.

Most importantly, the document was executed on September 14, 2022, almost four years before Oyo’s death, demonstrating that he had formally addressed the succession question well before the current dispute over who should become Tooro’s next Omukama.

The document bears the formal title “Last Will and Testament” and was made at Karuziika Palace, Fort Portal, Uganda, under the framework of the Republic of Uganda’s Succession Act.

Its succession clause leaves Oyo’s written order unmistakable: a legally recognised biological son capable of assuming the crown was his preferred successor. If no such son could succeed, he named Prince Komwiswa Yoweri first, followed by Prince Nyaika Solomon.

And in setting out his wishes, Oyo offered perhaps his clearest definition of what he believed the Tooro crown represented — not simply hereditary authority, but an institution whose leadership should be exercised in service of its people.

Omukama Oyo’s last will and testament was released after Prince Edward Kijanangoma was declared as the newly selected king of Tooro, a decision that Princess Komuntale dismissed as “Stupid Drama” by “evil vultures” as reported Here.