Crowned at age 3: The world's youngest king dies, a TV presenter crowned in his place

The Toro Kingdom in Uganda mourns King Oyo, who died at 34 from cancer. He was crowned as a toddler aged 3 in 1995 and was known as the "Child King". The kingdom's elders chose as his successor Edward Kijjanangoma, a state television newsreader. Oyo's mother and sister claim he has a young son and demand to open the will, but the elders reject the claim because the child was not officially presented.

The Toro Kingdom in Uganda is mourning King Oyo Nyimba Kabamba Iguru Rukidi IV, who passed away at age 34 after a battle with cancer. Oyo, known as the "Child King", was crowned in 1995 at just 3 years old, following his father's death, and ruled Toro for over three decades. He was a curious child who wore colorful robes and became an object of admiration for hundreds of thousands of his subjects. The kingdom's elders chose as his successor Edward Kijjanangoma, Oyo's 56-year-old cousin, who worked until now as a news presenter and editor at the Uganda Broadcasting Corporation (UBC). The choice was intended to satisfy traditional elements seeking continuity and those who opposed placing another child on the throne. The selection led to a succession battle: Oyo's mother, Queen Best Kamigisa, and his sister, Ruth Kumentule, oppose the choice. Uganda's President Yoweri Museveni claimed that Oyo left a will in which he asked that his son, a young child born out of wedlock, inherit him. The elders reject the claim because the child was not officially presented before the royal house as required by tradition. Despite the opposition, the coronation process has begun. Kijjanangoma performed the traditional ceremony of throwing nine coffee beans into the grave, thus marking the transfer of power. The new king will inherit royal assets including land and a government salary. Oyo served as a UN Goodwill Ambassador in the fight against HIV and AIDS, and cultivated friendships with then-Libyan leader Muammar Gaddafi, who contributed funds to renovate the royal palace. Uganda's traditional kingdoms were restored to activity in 1993, and they hold no political authority, but the monarchs hold supreme authority as guardians of tribal culture and tradition.