Fort Portal, Uganda — The Queen Mother of Tooro Kingdom, Best Kemigisa, has raised concerns over the security situation at the Tooro Palace, alleging that troops have surrounded the royal residence and restricted the movement of members of the royal family.
Kemigisa accused Maj Gen Kayanja Muhanga of withdrawing the royal guards and deploying soldiers around the palace, saying the development has created tension at a time when the royal family is mourning the late King Oyo Nyimba Kabamba Iguru Rukidi IV.
The Queen Mother also questioned the process through which a successor to the late king was selected and announced. She claimed that some clan members disregarded the wishes contained in King Oyo’s will when making decisions regarding the succession.
Kemigisa has appealed to the government and all those involved in the succession dispute to give the royal family time and space to mourn and bury the late king peacefully.
Her remarks come amid growing disagreements within the Tooro royal family and the wider Babiito clan over the succession to the Tooro throne.
The succession controversy has continued to attract public attention as different members of the royal establishment advance competing positions on who should assume the throne.
The allegations regarding the deployment of troops and the interpretation of King Oyo’s will could not be independently verified at the time of publication.
