King Oyo’s Mother Emotionally Shares How Loud Celebrations Took Place Only Metres From Where Her Son’s Body Lay After A New King Was Announced, Says It Was So Painful To Her

Queen Mother Best Kemigisa has opened up about the nine painful days she spent at Karuziika Palace following the death of her son, the late Omukama Oyo Nyimba Kabamba Iguru Rukidi IV, describing the period as one of the most difficult experiences of her life.

In a statement reflecting on the period between Oyo’s death and burial, Kemigisa said her greatest wish was to see her son given a peaceful and dignified burial before discussions about the succession of the Tooro throne began.

“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,” Kemigisa said.

According to the Queen Mother, she expected the succession question to be addressed only after Oyo had been laid to rest. She said this would have given the royal family and the kingdom time to handle the matter calmly, lawfully, and respectfully.

However, Kemigisa said events unfolded differently shortly after her son’s death. She claimed that a committee to select a new Omukama was established only hours after Oyo died, with the succession process beginning while his body was still being transported back to Tooro.

She further said that another announcement concerning a new king was made after the royal family and other members had gathered at Karuziika Palace and the late Omukama’s Will had been read.

Kemigisa said the events surrounding the announcement became particularly painful when loud celebrations reportedly broke out close to where her son’s body was lying. She said the celebrations happened only metres away from the body as she and other family members continued to mourn.

“Loud celebrations took place only metres from where my son’s body lay,” she said, adding that the experience was extraordinarily painful for her as a mother who was still grieving the loss of her child.

Oyo became Omukama of Tooro at the age of three in 1995 following the death of his father, Omukama Patrick Matthew Kaboyo Olimi III. He died aged 34 after battling cancer, leaving behind a succession question that has since generated competing claims over who should succeed him.

Kemigisa’s account has added a deeply personal dimension to the ongoing Tooro succession dispute, focusing on her experience as a mother during the nine days between her son’s death and burial. Her statement emphasises her position that Oyo should first have been mourned and buried with dignity before the kingdom embarked on discussions about its future leadership.