Ugandan kingdom picks new monarch to succeed King Oyo Nyimba, once world's youngest

Oyo Nyimba died on August 27 in the United States, where he was receiving treatment for cancer. While Uganda is a constitutional republic, ​Oyo Nyimba ruled Tooro in western Uganda, one of the former ​British colony's ancient kingdoms, which wields enormous cultural and social influence.

At ⁠a press conference in the kingdom's capital of Fort Portal, the royal clan's ​succession committee announced it chose Prince Edward Rukidi Kijanangoma, a news anchor and ​editor at the state-run broadcaster UBC, as monarch.

Oyo Nyimba, a U.N. goodwill ambassador who championed the fight against HIV and AIDS, became the youngest reigning monarch in 1995, according to Guinness World Records.

A ​video of his coronation shows a little boy sitting in his chair playing ​with a toy, his small body almost disappearing underneath the royal crown and robes.

Kijanangoma's selection ‌contradicted ⁠an earlier announcement by the kingdom's Prime Minister Calvin Armstrong Rwomiire, who said the unmarried Oyo Nyimba had left behind a child who was his heir.

Hours after the succession committee announced its selection, Princess Ruth Komuntale, Oyo Nyimba's only sister ​told a press conference ​that she and ⁠their mother, Best Kemigisa, rejected the choice of Kijanangoma as the new king.

"My brother, he left behind a will which ​stated very very clearly that the next person in line ​is his ⁠son, that's the heir to the throne," she said, adding that the will also stated Oyo's preferred successor should his own son be unable to assume the ⁠crown.

Oyo's body was returned ​to Uganda from the U.S. on Friday ​and preparations are under way for his burial on Saturday at the royal tombs near his palace in ​Fort Portal.