Uganda’s Tooro kingship faces court challenge on eve of enthronement

A Ugandan court challenge filed on Monday seeks to block the enthronement of Tooro’s new king, citing disputed succession claims.
Two members of the Batooro community, Derick Alitugabira and Juliet Kangume, together with civil society group Walezi Wa Katiba, filed an urgent application at the High Court in Fort Portal.
They are asking the court to suspend Tuesday’s +September 29, 2026) planned ceremony for Prince Edward Rukidi Nyabongo I until a substantive case over his selection is determined.
The applicants argue that proceeding with the enthronement could complicate efforts to resolve the underlying succession dispute.
Their case centres on an alleged will left by the late Omukama Oyo Nyimba Kabamba Iguru Rukidi IV, who died earlier this year.
According to the petitioners, the document specified a preferred succession arrangement in which the late king’s son would inherit the throne, with a cousin next in line if the son was unavailable.
They argue that the process through which Nyabongo was selected did not conform to those wishes.
Former Tooro Queen Mother Best Kemigisa is among the respondents. The petitioners cite statements they attribute to her acknowledging that the late king had a son and are asking the court to require her to identify and produce the alleged heir.
Nyabongo is listed as the first respondent, Kemigisa as the second and Uganda’s Attorney General as the third.
Walezi Wa Katiba says it is participating because it regards the transfer of authority within the Tooro cultural institution as a matter of public interest and constitutional governance.
Alitugabira says in an affidavit that he is a Mutooro and a member of the Musenzya clan. He says he has an interest in ensuring that the kingdom’s leadership is determined lawfully.
The application seeks to preserve the status quo until the wider succession dispute is resolved.
The High Court had not ruled on the application by the time of publication.
Tooro is one of Uganda’s traditional kingdoms.