Deutsche Welle
· collected 2026-09-14 · by Timothy Jones, Saim Dušan Inayatullah
Uganda concluded a nine-day mourning period for King Oyo Nyimba, who died last month at age 34 from cancer, in Fort Portal on Saturday. The funeral was attended by thousands of people and government officials. Despite his young age, Oyo ascended to the throne as a child in 1995. His death has sparked a dispute over succession, with royal clan members choosing Edward Rukidi Kijanangoma as the new king, while others claim there are potential heirs from out of wedlock.
Written by the local model on 2026-09-14,
using this article's own text rather than the other coverage of the
same event (that is the story summary below).
Story summary
The Tooro Kingdom in western Uganda has buried its late King Oyo Nyimba Kabamba Iguru Rukidi IV, who became king at the age of three in 1995 and died last month at 34 while receiving cancer treatment in the United States. The burial took place on Saturday amid a nine-day period of mourning, with thousands gathering for the funeral procession from Fort Portal's royal palace to St. John's Cathedral. At the Karambi Royal Tombs, Oyo’s appointed successor Edward Rukidi Kijanangoma threw nine coffee berries into his grave as per tradition, marking the formal handover of power. The ceremony was attended by senior Ugandan government officials and mourners who eulogized Oyo for his reserved yet jovial nature and his work as a UN goodwill ambassador against HIV/AIDS. Despite the peaceful burial, there had been a bitter succession battle until late Friday when Kijanangoma was confirmed as the new king.
Written for “Burial Of King Oyo” on 2026-09-14,
grounded in this article and the 1 other(s) covering the same event.
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No political leaning scored for article 8876 · logged 2026-09-14
Uganda has concluded a nine-day period of mourning for King Oyo Nyimba Kabamba Iguru Rukidi IV.
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Uganda → conclude → IV
A funeral was held for the Tooro Kingdom's late monarch in the western city of Fort Portal on Saturday.
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funeral → hold → Saturday
Oyo, who once held the unofficial title of the world's youngest king, ascended the throne as a young child in 1995 and died last month of cancer aged just 34, with his death prompting a bitter succession dispute.
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death → hold → dispute
Thousands gathered as Oyo was laid to rest
The casket carrying the king's body, which was draped in the blue-and-yellow Tooro flag, was carried by hearse from the royal palace in Fort Portal in a procession accompanied by royal guards dressed in orange tunics and beating wooden sticks.
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which → gather → sticks
Thousands of people gathered for the procession.
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Thousands → gather → procession
The ceremony in St. John's Cathedral was attended by hundreds of mourners, including senior Ugandan government officials.
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ceremony → attend → officials
After the service in the cathedral, Oyo was buried at the site of the royal tombs.
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Oyo → bury → tombs
At the burial ceremony, tradition dictates that the successor should throw nine coffee berries into the grave.
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successor → dictate → grave
"He had a gift to make people laugh," his sister, Princess Ruth Komuntale, said at the burial ceremony.
"He always knew how to brighten my day.
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He → have → day
Dispute over Oyo's successor
However, the question of that successor has aroused considerable controversy, and it was in doubt until late on Friday who would carry out that rite.
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who → arouse → rite
On Wednesday, a committee made up of members of the royal clan announced it had chosen Oyo's cousin, Edward Rukidi Kijanangoma, as the new king.
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it → make → king
But the immediate family of the late king said that the latter's will had called for a son who was born out of wedlock and has yet to be identified to succeed him.
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who → say → him
Those supporting Kijanangoma say Oyo's family has so far failed to come up with concrete information on the alleged son, while traditionalists also favor the choice of an adult as new monarch.
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traditionalists → support → monarch
A source with knowledge of crisis talks on the matter said authorities had managed to get Kijanangoma officially accepted as successor on Friday.
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Kijanangoma → say → Friday
Beloved traditional monarchs
Queen Mother Best Kemigisa said in a statement that the succession battle undermined the family's ability to mourn the king's death.
"I also appeal to those fighting over the throne: Please, there will be time for all of that," she said.
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she → say → that
"Let us grieve and bury my son King Oyo."
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us → let → son
Although Uganda is led by an elected head of state, it still possesses several kingdoms that were restored in 1993 after being banned for some three decades following the country's independence from British colonial rule.
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that → lead → rule
The monarchs of such kingdoms are often beloved but hold no formal power.
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monarchs → hold → power
Instead they are seen as guardians of traditional identity and heritage.
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they → see → identity
Edited by: Jenipher Camino Gonzalez
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algorithm → edit → news
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you → rely → news
