The family of David Kijanangoma, a prince of Tooro Kingdom, has appealed to the public for financial support as he battles stage three throat cancer.
Kijanangoma, who has been undergoing treatment for over a year, requires approximately Shs 700 million to access specialised cancer care in India, after reportedly exhausting his personal resources on treatment within Uganda.
According to his close friend and spokesperson, David Irumba, the prince has been receiving chemotherapy at Nakasero Hospital and the Uganda Cancer Institute. However, his condition has recently deteriorated.
“We have used every coin on treatment,” Irumba said, explaining the family’s decision to seek public assistance. Over the weekend, the prince was rushed to the Uganda Cancer Institute for emergency care.
Due to congestion at the facility, he initially struggled to secure a bed and was briefly accommodated in a temporary arrangement before later being transferred to a private room. The family says the situation has been both emotionally and financially draining, with treatment costs rising beyond their capacity.
Fundraising efforts have since been mobilised across the country, including car wash campaigns in Fort Portal, Kampala, Jinja, and Mbarara. Plans are also underway for charity concerts featuring Tooro artists, as well as a marathon to raise funds.
Irumba also made an appeal to Yoweri Museveni, referring to him by the Tooro honorific mujwarakondo (defender of the kingdom), seeking support to save the prince’s life. A member of the royal Babiito clan, speaking on condition of anonymity, confirmed that the family has been aware of the illness and has been offering support privately.
Prince Kijanangoma is the son of the late Paul Kijanangoma and a grandson of George Edward Rukidi. He is also the younger brother of the late Happy Kijanangoma, who was killed in Fort Portal in 1995.
The prince has previously been a controversial figure within the kingdom, notably in 2015 when he criticised the leadership of Oyo Nyimba Kabamba Iguru Rukidi IV and briefly attempted to declare himself king before reconciling with the kingdom in 2019.
Now, however, attention has shifted from royal disputes to his health battle, as well-wishers rally support in a race against time to secure treatment abroad.
