General David Sejusa has weighed in on the death of Tooro King Oyo Rukidi IV, urging members of the royal family and their supporters to respect cultural traditions as the kingdom prepares to lay the monarch to rest.
Sejusa said he had initially avoided commenting directly on developments in Tooro, choosing instead to explain traditional practices associated with the death of a reigning king in the ancient Batembuzi and Bachwezi cultural traditions.
In a statement, the retired military officer said particular customs applied when a king died while his mother was still alive. He described the Nyamashore, or Queen Mother, as having occupied a powerful position during her son's reign, effectively functioning as a co-monarch.
Sejusa cited historical examples involving Nyinamwiru during the reign of Ndahura, Kibooga during the reign of Ntare V and Nyakahima during the reign of Mulindwa, among other Queen Mothers.
According to Sejusa, Queen Mothers traditionally had access to royal regalia and important kingdom secrets. They were also custodians of items associated with the king's personal spiritual and cultural practices, including Emandwa y'Endugu and Ekisingo ky'Orweru.
He said Queen Mothers who survived their sons underwent specific cultural practices following the king's death, with some taking place before burial and others immediately afterwards.
Among the practices he outlined was the removal of the Queen Mother from the royal throne following the death of the king. He said she would no longer see the royal fire, would leave the main palace compound and would relinquish custody of certain royal spiritual items.
Sejusa, however, noted that the Queen Mother would retain her own royal court, cattle and other necessities associated with her position.
The former military intelligence chief also criticised what he described as public disputes involving members of the Tooro royal family and their supporters on social media.
He urged the younger generation to learn the cultural meaning of mourning a departed king instead of engaging in public insults and confrontations.
“The behaviour of Tooro Princes and Princess and their supporters on social media has been disgraceful,” Sejusa said, warning that such conduct could have serious consequences for the kingdom.
He appealed to the royal family to exercise restraint during the king's final journey, arguing that disagreements could be addressed at another time.
Sejusa concluded by urging those involved to set aside their differences as Tooro mourns King Oyo, who died after more than three decades on the throne.
“Rest Well King Oyo!” he said.