TAKEAWAYS

• Mwenda says the purported heir could not be verified.
• He says George Kamurasi won the succession vote.
• He questions whether Oyo’s alleged son qualifies as heir.

Renowned journalist Andrew Mwenda has responded to a statement by Tooro Kingdom Queen Mother Best Kemigisa concerning the succession dispute following the death of King Oyo.

Mwenda said he was compelled to clarify the succession process after the Queen Mother described the people who selected a new King as a “self-appointed group of clan members.”

According to Mwenda, a general meeting of the Babiito, the royal clan of Tooro, was held at Karuziika Palace on August 28, two days after King Oyo’s death.

He said more than 100 princes and princesses attended and selected a 21-member Royal Succession Committee, headed by the Musuuga, to oversee the search for a new King.

Mwenda said four candidates were presented, including George Desmond Kamurasi, George David Kamurasi, Edward Rukiidi Kijanangoma and a purported son of King Oyo.

He claimed concerns were raised about the purported son because the committee was not provided with a photograph and was given different names for him.

“The committee found this dubious and decided to remove Oyo’s purported son from the list of considerations,” Mwenda said.

Mwenda said that after four days of deliberations, the committee held a secret ballot, with George Kamurasi receiving 15 votes while the other candidates received one vote each.

He also disputed claims that Kamurasi rejected the throne, saying he instead requested time to consult his wife and business partners in London.

However, Mwenda said the kingdom proceeded with another candidate because of the time constraints surrounding the succession.

He further addressed the late King Oyo’s will, saying it was written in 2022 and contained only a hypothetical heir.

Mwenda argued that, according to Tooro customs as he understands them, being a biological son of a King does not automatically make someone heir to the throne.

“The most important thing is that in Toro, it is not automatic that a king’s son becomes heir to the throne,” he said.

Mwenda said the kingdom would therefore need clarity about the purported son’s mother and her background before determining his claim to the throne.

The remarks add another layer to the increasingly public dispute over who should succeed King Oyo.