Tooro Crown Prince David Kijanangoma Araali has died at the Uganda Cancer Institute, where he had been undergoing treatment for throat cancer.
Prince David, a member of the Tooro royal family, had been battling stage-three throat cancer, with his family earlier appealing to the public for financial assistance to support his treatment.
His death comes at a difficult moment for the Tooro royal family, which is still grappling with a succession dispute following the death of Omukama Oyo Nyimba Kabamba Iguru Rukidi IV on August 27, 2026.
Prince David was a cousin of the late King Oyo and had been among members of the royal family closely associated with the kingdom.
His death comes just days after the burial of King Oyo at the royal tombs in Karambi, Fort Portal, and the declaration of Prince Edward Rukidi Kijanangoma as the new King of Tooro.
Edward, a former Uganda Broadcasting Corporation news anchor and editor, was selected by the Babiito clan succession committee to succeed Oyo. He was subsequently declared Omukama Edward Rukidi Nyabongo I during the late king’s send-off on September 12.
The succession, however, remains contested, with members of Oyo’s immediate family disputing the process and arguing that the late king left a will naming his son as heir. The government has also indicated that the succession dispute must be resolved before the new king can be formally gazetted.
Prince David’s death therefore adds another sombre chapter to a turbulent period for the Tooro royal family, coming less than three weeks after the death of King Oyo, who reigned for more than three decades after ascending the throne at the age of three in 1995.
Further details about Prince David’s death, including funeral arrangements, are expected from the royal family.
