Queen Best Kemigisa Olimi, the mother of late Tooro King Oyo Nyimba Kabamba Iguru Rukidi IV, says royal guards at the palace in Fort Portal were removed and replaced by Uganda People’s Defence Forces troops just days before her son’s burial.
In a statement shared on X, Queen Kemigisa alleged that Gen. Kayanja Muhanga came to the palace three days before the burial and removed the royal guards without notice before troops were deployed around the premises.
“Now, three days to my son’s burial, Gen. Kayanja Muhanga came to the Palace and removed the royal guards without notice, and troops were deployed around the Palace,” she said.
She further alleged that the Musuuga was taken away to an undisclosed location.
The development comes as tensions continue to build around the succession to King Oyo, whose death has been followed by competing positions over who should take over the Tooro throne.
Queen Kemigisa also criticized the announcement of Prince Edward Rukidi Kijanangoma as the successor, claiming the decision was made by what she described as a self-appointed group of clan members without consulting her or asking about King Oyo’s wishes.
“But before we could even reach Fort Portal (we had reached Kyenjojo), Andrew Mwenda announced that a self-appointed group of clan members had chosen another King,” she said.
According to Kemigisa, none of those involved had contacted her to express condolences or discuss the late king’s Will and plans.
The royal family has previously maintained that King Oyo left a Will outlining his wishes regarding succession and has called for those wishes to be respected.
Kemigisa now says the security deployment around the palace has also affected the family’s ability to move freely or receive visitors.
“And now, with the security deployment around the Palace, we cannot leave or receive people freely. We are under house arrest,” she alleged.
She appealed directly to Gen. Kayanja Muhanga, the UPDF leadership and President Yoweri Museveni to allow the royal family to mourn and bury King Oyo without what she described as restrictions on their freedom and dignity.
“I appeal to Gen. Kayanja Muhanga, UPDF leadership, and the president to allow our family the freedom and dignity to mourn and bury King Oyo in peace,” she said.
The allegations add another explosive layer to an already tense succession dispute, coming as the Kingdom prepares for King Oyo’s burial and rival positions over his successor continue to emerge.
At this stage, the claims about the removal of royal guards, the deployment of UPDF troops and the alleged house arrest remain Queen Kemigisa’s account. The supplied material does not include a response from Gen. Muhanga, the UPDF or the President.