Uganda's King Oyo Nyimba was buried on Saturday as a dispute over his succession deepens within the Tooro royal family. Oyo died of cancer in the United States on August 27 at the age of 34. He had reigned for 31 years and became the world's youngest reigning monarch when crowned at the age of three in 1995, according to Guinness World Records.
The current disagreement centers on whether the unmarried king left behind an heir and whether elders acted properly in naming a successor before the nine-day mourning period was complete.
Elders of the Babiito ruling clan challenged claims that Oyo left a son born out of wedlock, stating he never formally declared an heir to them.
A committee of Tooro elders subsequently announced they had chosen a prince who works as a journalist to succeed Oyo. This decision was heavily criticized by Oyo's closest relatives, including his sister, Ruth Komuntale, who stated the announcement sought to "bring division and turmoil".
Queen Mother Best Kemigisa urged the family to grieve first, while the royal family claimed Oyo left behind a will that was ignored by the elders, raising the possibility that the succession issue could end up in court.
