TAKEAWAYS

• Mwenda claims an alleged son of King Oyo emerged but his identity and maternal lineage could not be verified.
• He says the succession committee considered several candidates before selecting Desmond Kamurasi through a secret ballot.
• The succession debate has since shifted to Edward Kijanengoma and competing claims surrounding the next Omukama.

Veteran journalist Andrew Mwenda has continued to shed light on the succession dispute unfolding in Tooro Kingdom ahead of the burial of the late Omukama Oyo Nyimba Kabamba Iguru Rukidi IV.

The Kingdom has so far announced two names linked to the succession process, with Edward Kijanengoma emerging as the latest person selected to take the throne.

However, according to Mwenda, the process has taken a dramatic turn following claims about another potential heir whose identity and family background remain unclear.

Mwenda claims that a child initially known as Jacob, and later Jackson, was presented as a possible son of the late King Oyo.

According to him, members of the succession committee questioned why the alleged heir had never been publicly seen and why details about his mother could not be established.

“No one has seen him physically. No one has his picture,” Mwenda said.

He further claimed that the committee sought information about the child’s mother, including her clan and family background, because Tooro’s cultural succession traditions attach importance to lineage.

Mwenda said the information was not disclosed, leading the committee to rule that the child could not be considered a candidate.

He also revealed that the committee had considered other potential heirs before eventually voting for Desmond Kamurasi through a secret ballot.

According to Mwenda, the succession process later became complicated by what he described as efforts to promote the unknown child.

He said he personally sought clarification from officials close to the late King, including the Prime Minister and Oyo’s maternal cousin, Ron Kawamara, but claimed neither confirmed knowledge of the alleged child.

Mwenda also discussed the circumstances surrounding Edward Kijanengoma, saying he initially had reservations about accepting the throne amid concerns surrounding his British wife and their son.

The succession debate remains sensitive, with questions over lineage, cultural norms and the process used to identify the next Omukama continuing to dominate discussions in Tooro.