KAMPALA, Uganda – Prince David Kijanangoma Araali, a Tooro royal and brother of newly named Omukama Edward Rukidi Kijanangoma, has died after a long battle with cancer.
Prince David died Tuesday while receiving treatment at the Uganda Cancer Institute in Mulago, according to Tooro Kingdom spokesperson Vincent Mugume and his close associate Andrew Irumba.
He had been ill for more than a year and was diagnosed with Stage Three esophageal cancer. His condition worsened earlier this year, prompting his family to appeal publicly for financial assistance to support specialised treatment in India.
In March and April, the family said it needed between Shs500 million and Shs700 million for his treatment abroad. Prince David had undergone chemotherapy at Nakasero Hospital and the Uganda Cancer Institute.
In April, he was discharged from Mulago Hospital after a stay that attracted public attention when photographs emerged showing him receiving care while lying on the hospital floor.
At the time, his spokesperson said the prince was in stable condition and was expected to return for weekly reviews. However, efforts to raise money for treatment abroad had reportedly yielded little.
The family also raised concerns over rent arrears and alleged delays in a presidential upkeep stipend that had been granted to Prince David in 2019.
Prince David was a grandson of former Tooro king Omukama Sir George David Rukidi III and a son of the late Prince Christopher Paul Kijanangoma.
He was also a cousin of the late Omukama Oyo Nyimba Kabamba Iguru Rukidi IV, who died in the United States on Aug. 27, 2026, at the age of 34 after battling cancer.
Prince David’s family has also suffered another loss in the royal family. His brother, Prince Charles Happy Kijanangoma, was killed in Fort Portal in 1999.
Beyond his royal lineage, Prince David was a familiar and sometimes controversial figure in Tooro Kingdom affairs.
In 2015, he openly challenged King Oyo’s leadership, accusing the administration of failing the kingdom. He later occupied the historic Rwengoma Palace in Fort Portal and declared himself king.
He was arrested and charged with criminal trespass, but a court later dismissed the case. The two sides subsequently reconciled.
His death comes only days after the burial of King Oyo at the Karambi Royal Tombs on Sept. 12 and the selection of Prince Edward Rukidi Kijanangoma, a former Uganda Broadcasting Corporation news anchor, as the new Omukama.
Prince Edward is David’s elder brother.
His selection by the Babiito clan succession committee has, however, been contested by sections of Oyo’s immediate family, who have cited the late king’s will in questioning the succession process.
Prince David’s death therefore comes at a sensitive moment for the Tooro royal family, which is dealing with the loss of one king while facing disagreements over the succession of another.
Funeral arrangements for Prince David had not been announced by the time of writing.
