Tooro’s Queen Mother Best Kemigisa has finally broken her silence on one of the biggest mysteries surrounding the late Omukama Oyo Nyimba Kabamba Iguru Rukidi IV — confirming that the fallen king indeed left behind a son.
King Oyo passed away on August 27 at Baylor Scott & White Hospital in Dallas, Texas, after battling cancer, leaving Tooro Kingdom plunged into mourning and uncertainty over the future of the royal family.
Now, in a deeply emotional statement shared on her social media platforms, the grieving Queen Mother has confirmed that her son had a child, putting to rest weeks of speculation and debate over the boy’s existence.
Best Kemigisa revealed that the royal family had hoped the child would travel back to Uganda with them on the same plane following King Oyo’s death.
However, as events surrounding the Tooro throne grew increasingly tense, concerns reportedly emerged over whether bringing the young boy back into the country would expose him to the unfolding succession tensions.
“Ultimately, the child did not return with us. This has left me deeply saddened. Whatever disagreement existed, no child should be placed in such circumstances where returning to his father’s homeland could mean being drawn into hostility and conflict,” the Queen Mother stated.
Her revelation comes at a particularly sensitive moment for Tooro, with the kingdom entering a new chapter following King Oyo’s death and the subsequent developments surrounding the royal succession.
For many Tooro subjects, the confirmation that King Oyo left behind a son is likely to raise fresh questions about the young prince’s place in the royal family and the kingdom’s succession history.
Despite the pain and turmoil surrounding her son’s death, Queen Mother Best Kemigisa said she intends to remain part of Tooro’s journey as the kingdom moves forward.
She also pledged to continue preserving King Oyo’s legacy and memory through various initiatives, ensuring that the life and contributions of her late son remain remembered for generations to come.
