A legal battle has erupted on the eve of the Tooro Kingdom’s royal ceremony, as petitioners Derick Alitugabira, Juliet Kangume, and civil society organization Walezi Wa Katiba filed a High Court application in Fort Portal to block the enthronement of Prince Edward Rukidi Nyabongo I. Scheduled for September 29, 2026, the ceremony faces uncertainty after the applicants argued that the selection process for the new Omukama violated the wishes of the late monarch, Omukama Oyo Nyimba Kabamba Iguru Rukidi IV. The petitioners, represented by Thomas & Michael Advocates, seek temporary orders to halt the event until a substantive case over the succession is resolved, citing risks of irreversible consequences if the coronation proceeds without judicial review.
At the heart of the dispute is an alleged will attributed to the late king, which petitioners claim designated his son as the preferred heir and a cousin as an alternative. They allege that the current Omukama’s selection bypassed this documented succession plan. Former Queen Mother Best Kemigisa, named as a respondent, is accused of withholding information about the alleged heir, with petitioners demanding she identify and produce the individual. The applicants also argue that the Tooro Kingdom’s succession process, a matter of public interest, must adhere to constitutional governance and the rule of law, as emphasized by Walezi Wa Katiba, which frames its involvement as a mandate to ensure lawful governance and accountability.
Alitugabira, a Mutooro native and member of the Musenzya clan, asserted in his affidavit that his allegiance lies with the legally recognized Omukama and that the succession dispute directly impacts his role as a subject of the kingdom. The petitioners, based at Thomas & Michael Advocates in Kampala, have urged the High Court to maintain the status quo, emphasizing that the coronation’s outcome could set a precedent for future royal transitions. The application, filed hours before the scheduled event, has left the ceremony’s fate pending the court’s decision, with no hearing yet scheduled at the Fort Portal High Court.
The case underscores deepening tensions within the Tooro Kingdom over the legitimacy of its leadership, with implications for cultural traditions and constitutional principles. The coronation, which has seen intensified fundraising and restrictions on certain foods at Karuziika, now hangs in the balance as legal and royal authorities navigate conflicting claims. The outcome will not only determine the new Omukama but also shape the kingdom’s governance framework, with Walezi Wa Katiba and other stakeholders advocating for a process rooted in transparency and adherence to the late king’s documented wishes. As of press time, the court had not ruled on the emergency application, leaving the event’s future unresolved.