Body of world's youngest traditional king returns home to Uganda amid succession row

Image source, ReutersImage caption, Family members and other officials came to receive the coffin at Entebbe airport.

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The body of a popular traditional ruler who was world's youngest reigning monarch has been flown home to Uganda where President Yoweri Musveni was amongst the mourners gathered at Entebbe airport to pay their respects.

King Oyo Nyimba Kabamba Iguru Rukidi IV died in the US last week aged 34 after receiving treatment for an aggressive form of cancer.

The Tooro king will be buried next Saturday - the day he had hoped to celebrate the anniversary of his coronation. He had ascended the throne aged just three and was crowned when he turned 18.

The return of his body marks the start of the Tooro kingdom's official nine-day mourning period amid a growing public dispute over who should succeed him.

Image source, ReutersImage caption, There was a sombre mood as the police escorted the coffin from the plane.

Uganda is governed by an elected president and parliament, but it has several traditional kingdoms that continue to have significant cultural influence despite not having political power.

Oyo, who Guinness World Records listed as the world's youngest reigning monarch, external, ruled over more than two million people. He was the 13th monarch of a kingdom that was founded in the early 19th Century.

After a brief ceremony at the airport, his body was flown by military helicopter to Kyegegwa in western Uganda, where the Tooro Kingdom is located, before being taken by road to the royal palace in Fort Portal.

It will lie in state at Karuziika Palace for the mourning period and members of the public will be allowed to pay their respects and prayers will be held there each evening.

On Thursday, 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.

Image source, Uganda governmentImage caption, President Yoweri Museveni laid a wreath on King Oyo's coffin.

Image source, Uganda Media CentreImage caption, Royal mourners watched on during the short ceremony at the airport.

Prime Minister Robinah Nabbanja described him as a "symbol of unity" and praised his work raising awareness about HIV and Aids among young people.

Opposition MPs also paid tribute, with acting opposition leader Patrick Nsamba Oshabe saying: "Heritage and development were never rivals in his hands.

President Museveni has ordered an official burial for the monarch and national flags will fly at half-mast for three days around the funeral.

On Wednesday, the Tooro kingdom's Prime Minister, Calvin Armstrong Rwomiire Akiiki, said the king had asked officials not to disclose the seriousness of his illness because he believed he would recover and return to his people.

He said the monarch had hoped to return home for this year's Empango - the annual celebration of his coronation - on 12 September.

He was confident in his recovery," Akiiki said.

His death has triggered uncertainty over the future of the monarchy as Oyo was not officially married.

But Akiiki has said the king had a young son, whose identity would be revealed later in accordance with Tooro customs.

President Museveni also said the king's mother, Queen Best Kemigisa, had told him that her son had left an heir.

But Charles Kamurasi, who is head of the Babiito royal clan from which Tooro's kings are chosen, said he knew nothing about the reported child, prompting an unusual public disagreement among senior figures in the kingdom.

Others within the royal clan have questioned why they were apparently unaware of the child.

O primeiro-ministro não deveria falar sobre o herdeiro do rei. É um processo cultural," disse um membro de um clã real, segundo a imprensa estatal New Vision de Uganda.

How can we, blood relatives, not know of the child, and the prime minister says he knows? That is totally out of order," the clan member added.

Akiiki has since appealed for the dispute to be dealt with privately, saying he wanted to meet other elders to resolve their differences.

Words spoken in moments of grief can deepen divisions that may take years to repair," he warned.

Image source, ReutersImage caption, The casket with the body of the king was then flown by military helicopter to western Uganda.

Image source, AFP via Getty ImagesImage caption, King Oyo ascended to the throne at the age of three - and was then crowned on reaching adulthood at 18 in 2010.

The Ugandan government has also intervened, urging people not to spread speculation about the succession on social media.

Culture Minister Henry Tumukunde said Ugandans should rely on official information from the government and the Tooro Kingdom, adding that any dispute would be dealt with under law governing traditional and cultural leaders.

The whole world is watching how Uganda mourns its king," he said, urging people to show "restraint and respect.

The Tooro Kingdom follows a hereditary system in selecting its monarch.

Before his burial, a church funeral service will be held at a local church.

His body will then be carried in a traditional procession to the Karambi Royal Tombs, with burial is expected to be completed by 14:00 local time.

According to Tooro tradition, kings are not buried in the evening.

Go to BBCAfrica.com, external for more news from the African continent.