Ugandan Journalist Crowned King of Tooro Kingdom Amid Succession Dispute

Prince Edward Rukidi Kijanangoma, 56, was crowned king of Uganda's Tooro Kingdom on September 29, 2026, taking the regnal name Edward Rukidi Nyabongo I. The coronation in Fort Portal marked the formal end of a succession process that followed the death of King Oyo Nyimba Kabamba Iguru Rukidi IV, who died from cancer at age 34 in August 2026 after ruling for 31 years. Kijanangoma, a long-serving journalist, news anchor, and editor at Uganda Broadcasting Corporation, was selected by a 21-member committee from the royal Babiito clan. As cousins and both grandsons of Rukidi III (the 11th Omukama, who ruled from 1928 to 1965), Kijanangoma was eligible under Tooro succession rules, which require the king to come from the Babiito clan specifically through Rukidi III's lineage.

The coronation ceremony followed traditional practices that began at midnight, with Kijanangoma walking approximately 4 kilometres (2.5 miles) to Karuziika Royal Palace. The ritual included a mock battle to symbolise that kingship does not come easily, blessing by royal Babiito clan members, and formal ceremonies before the crown was placed on his head. The event drew thousands of attendees, including President Museveni (who served as crown bearer), government officials, diplomatic representatives, and cultural leaders. Church services at St John's Cathedral of Ruwenzori Diocese preceded the main ceremony, reflecting Tooro tradition requiring the king to seek God's blessing.

The succession was disputed. The late King Oyo's mother, Queen Best Kemigisa, argued that her son had left a written will designating a young, previously undisclosed son as heir. Kemigisa stated that Oyo had left the child with instructions for him to succeed to the throne and that the boy was in the United States state of Texas at the time of the coronation. She described the selection process as "extraordinarily painful" and expressed concern that returning to Uganda amid the "tense and polarised succession dispute" could expose the child to hostility. The royal succession committee, however, stated that the alleged son "hasn't been presented anywhere" and proceeded with the selection according to Tooro customs and traditions, insisting their process was conducted properly.

Tooro is one of Uganda's four officially recognised historical kingdoms. Traditional kingdoms were banned following independence in the 1960s but restored in 1993. While they hold no formal political power and their leaders are legally barred from partisan politics, they remain influential symbols of cultural identity and heritage. Kijanangoma becomes the 13th or 15th Omukama of Tooro (sources differ on the historical count) and the first king of the Batooro people to have worked as a professional journalist. Former colleagues described him as humble and down to earth. The late King Oyo, known as the "boy king," ascended to the throne at age 3 in 1995 following his father's death and became known for his cultural significance, meeting world leaders including Nelson Mandela and Libyan leader Muammar Gadhafi.