Former TV Anchor Crowned King of Uganda’s Tooro Kingdom After Succession Dispute

Former television news anchor Edward Rukidi Kijanangoma has been crowned the 13th monarch of Uganda’s historic Tooro Kingdom, bringing a succession dispute to a new stage following the death of King Oyo Nyimba Kabamba Iguru Rukidi IV.

Kijanangoma, 56, was crowned on Tuesday, September 29, in Fort Portal, the capital of Tooro, and assumed the royal name Edward Rukidi Nyabongo I. He succeeds Oyo, who died in the United States on August 27 at the age of 34 after receiving treatment for cancer.

The coronation followed a succession process conducted by the royal Babiito clan, with a 21-member committee selecting Kijanangoma, who is a cousin of the late king.

Uganda’s government had earlier formally recognised the succession process, after the Babiito clan selected Kijanangoma on September 9 and the kingdom’s Supreme Council endorsed the decision on September 15.

The transition, however, was preceded by a dispute within the royal family.

King Oyo’s mother, Queen Mother Best Kemigisa, and his sister, Princess Ruth Komuntale, maintained that the late monarch had left behind a young son and a will naming the child as his heir.

The claim became a major issue following Oyo’s death because the former king was not publicly known to have been married or to have children. The Babiito clan, which plays a central role in selecting the Tooro monarch, said it was unaware of the alleged child and maintained that the succession process followed established Tooro customs.

The dispute generated uncertainty over who would succeed Oyo and contributed to delays surrounding the transition.

Kijanangoma’s coronation eventually proceeded with elaborate traditional ceremonies. Reports said the rituals included a ceremonial bull slaughter, the sprinkling of hen’s blood and a symbolic mock battle for the crown. The incoming monarch also made a traditional night journey to Karuziika Palace before the formal ceremonies.

Kijanangoma’s background has added an unusual dimension to the succession story.

Before taking the throne, he worked as a news anchor and editor at Uganda Broadcasting Corporation (UBC). Former colleagues described him as humble and down-to-earth. His transition from journalism to traditional leadership has attracted considerable attention in Uganda and beyond.

The new king is also a member of the royal family and a grandson of former Tooro King George Rukidi III, according to reports.

His predecessor, King Oyo, became internationally known after ascending the Tooro throne at only three years old in 1995 following the death of his father. His childhood coronation attracted international attention, making him one of the world’s most recognisable young monarchs at the time.

Oyo died on August 27 while undergoing treatment in the United States. Uganda’s official Media Centre reported that he was buried at the Karambi Royal Tombs in Fort Portal on September 12. Reuters reported that he had been receiving treatment for angiosarcoma, an aggressive form of cancer.

Although Uganda is a constitutional republic, its traditional kingdoms continue to play an important cultural and symbolic role. The country’s four restored kingdoms do not possess formal political power, but they remain significant institutions for cultural identity and heritage.

President Yoweri Museveni attended the coronation in Fort Portal, which attracted large crowds and was broadcast to audiences beyond the kingdom.

Following his enthronement, Nyabongo I is expected to lead Tooro’s cultural institution at a time when the kingdom is seeking to move beyond the controversy surrounding the succession.

The new reign therefore begins not only with the traditional symbolism of a new monarch, but also with the challenge of rebuilding unity after a closely watched dispute over who should inherit the throne.