The body of King Oyo Nyimba Kabamba Iguru Rukidi IV, who was listed by Guinness World Records as the world's youngest reigning monarch, has been flown home to Uganda. President Yoweri Musveni was among those gathered at Entebbe airport to pay respects.
King Oyo died in the US last week at the age of 34, following treatment for an aggressive form of cancer. His return marks the beginning of the Tooro kingdom's official nine-day mourning period.
The Tooro king will be buried next Saturday, the day he had hoped to celebrate the anniversary of his coronation. He ascended the throne in 1995 aged three and was crowned at 18.
A public dispute has arisen over who should succeed him, as King Oyo was not officially married. The Tooro kingdom's Prime Minister, Calvin Armstrong Rwomiire Akiiki, stated the king had a young son whose identity would be revealed later. However, Charles Kamurasi, head of the Babiito royal clan, said he knew nothing about the reported child, leading to public disagreement among senior figures.
Prime Minister Akiiki has appealed for the dispute to be handled privately. The Ugandan government has also intervened, urging people to avoid speculation on social media and to rely on official information from the government and the Tooro Kingdom.
Uganda's parliament held a special tribute to King Oyo, with MPs remembering him as a modernising monarch who championed education, health, and opportunities for young people. Prime Minister Robinah Nabbanja described him as a "symbol of unity" and praised his work raising awareness about HIV and Aids among young people.