FORT PORTAL, UGANDA — 29 September 2026: Prince Edward Rukidi Kijanangoma has been formally enthroned as Omukama Edward Rukidi Nyabongo I, marking the beginning of a new reign in the Tooro Kingdom.
The coronation ceremony is taking place at Karuziika Palace in Fort Portal City, bringing together members of the royal family, cultural leaders, government officials and thousands of people from Tooro and beyond.
Nyabongo I succeeds the late Omukama Oyo Nyimba Kabamba Iguru Rukidi IV, who died on 27 August 2026 at the age of 34 after more than three decades on the throne. Oyo was crowned as a young child and became internationally known as one of the world’s youngest monarchs.
Traditional rituals mark the transition
The coronation follows a series of traditional rituals conducted at Karuziika Palace. On Monday, 28 September, Nyabongo I took part in ceremonies marking the transition from the period of mourning for King Oyo to the beginning of a new reign.
The rituals included a symbolic mock battle at the Mugabante entrance to Karuziika Palace, followed by other traditional rites inside the royal palace. The ceremonies are part of the cultural process through which the new Omukama assumes the royal seat.
The formal coronation programme also includes a church blessing at St John’s Cathedral before the king returns to Karuziika Palace for the main ceremony and formal crowning.
A new chapter after a succession dispute
The transition comes after weeks of discussion and disagreement surrounding the succession to the Tooro throne.
The Babiito Royal Clan selected Prince Edward Rukidi Kijanangoma on 9 September, and the Rukurato, the Supreme Council of the Tooro Kingdom, subsequently endorsed the succession. The government said the succession process had been conducted through the recognised traditional institutions of the kingdom.
However, members of the late King Oyo’s family have raised questions about the succession, including claims concerning a possible son of the late king. A legal challenge was also filed at the Fort Portal High Court shortly before the coronation, seeking to halt the installation.
Despite the dispute, the coronation proceeded on 29 September.
Who is Edward Rukidi Nyabongo I?
Before becoming king, Edward Rukidi Kijanangoma was known beyond the royal establishment and had worked as a journalist and television news anchor. His selection by the Babiito clan has therefore brought a new public profile to the Tooro throne.
As Uganda’s traditional kingdoms operate primarily as cultural institutions, the Omukama does not exercise constitutional political power. The monarchy nevertheless remains an important institution for the cultural identity, heritage and traditions of the Batooro people.
The enthronement of Edward Rukidi Nyabongo I now opens a new chapter in the history of the Tooro Kingdom, as the kingdom moves forward under a new monarch following the death of King Oyo.
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