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Journalist Unexpectedly Chosen as King
Newser • • world
Key Points:
- Edward Rukidi Kijanangoma, a Ugandan news anchor and cousin of the late Tooro Kingdom monarch, has been named the new crown prince and likely successor following the death of King Oyo Nyimba Kabamba Iguru Rukidi IV.
- King Oyo, known as the "boy king" for ascending the throne as an infant, died at age 34 from cancer and will be buried in a ceremony expected to draw tens of thousands of mourners near the Congo border.
- The selection committee chose Kijanangoma despite President Museveni's assertion that King Oyo left a young heir born out of wedlock, aiming to balance traditional continuity with opposition to another child ruler.
- The decision has sparked controversy, with Oyo's sister Ruth Komuntale rejecting the choice and claiming the late king's will named an heir, raising the potential for legal challenges and division among supporters.
- Another cousin, George Desmond Kamurasi, a London-based soccer player, was considered a leading contender and urged patience and respect for cultural traditions during the selection process.
