A Ugandan journalist with decades of experience in broadcasting has been installed as the new king of the Tooro kingdom, concluding a tense succession battle that has drawn international attention. Prince Edward Rukidi Kijanangoma Nyabongo II, 56, was crowned following the death of King Oyo Nyimba Kabamba Iguru Rukidi IV, who passed away last month at the age of 34 after ruling for 31 years.
Kijanangoma was widely recognized by the public not as a royal heir, but as a prominent anchor and editor at the state broadcaster, the Uganda Broadcasting Corporation. His transition from storyteller to sovereign has sparked controversy, particularly regarding the legitimacy of his claim against the wishes of the late king’s mother, Queen Best Kemigisa.
The late King Oyo ascended the throne in 1995 as an infant, becoming one of the world’s youngest monarchs. According to close members of the royal family, Oyo left behind a will naming a young son as his successor. However, the identity of this child has never been made public, and he was not recognized by the committee of 21 Babiito clan members tasked with selecting the new ruler.
Queen Kemigisa has vehemently opposed the decision, describing it as a violation of her late husband’s final wishes. She stated that the celebrations for the new king took place mere meters from where her son’s body lay, calling the experience “extraordinarily painful.” Kemigisa revealed that her grandson, currently residing in Texas, was scheduled to return to Uganda but has been held back due to the hostile political climate surrounding the dispute.
In response, Tooro Kingdom Information Minister Charles Mwanguhya asserted that the alleged son has never been formally presented to the clan, suggesting a growing acceptance that the late king did not leave a male heir. He explained that while the crown passed from father to son under Oyo, it has now moved to a different lineage within the ruling Babiito clan, specifically descending from King George David Matthew Kamurasi Rukidi III.
Among the candidates considered for the throne was Prince George Desmond Kamurasi, a footballer who plays for an amateur club in the UK. According to the succession committee, he declined the offer due to other professional commitments. Kijanangoma, a cousin of the late king and also a grandson of Rukidi III, accepted the role.
The coronation ceremony involved traditional rituals beginning at midnight, including a mock fight to symbolize the struggles of kingship and a four-kilometer walk to the Karuziika royal palace. Upon arrival, Kijanangoma was blessed by clan elders and crowned.
Uganda’s government has backed the clan’s selection. Attorney General Sam Mayanja confirmed that no formal legal complaints had been lodged against Kijanangoma, clearing the path for the coronation. President Yoweri Museveni is scheduled to attend, and his son, General Muhoozi Kainerugaba, publicly supported the new monarch on social media.
Kijanangoma, born in 1970 in Fort Portal, holds a degree in mass communication from Makerere University. He spent over two decades in journalism, including time in Rwanda, before returning to Uganda. He has promised to use his media connections to benefit his subjects and emphasized a platform of unity.
His mother, Assimwe Yusta Kijanangoma, expressed confidence in her son’s preparation, citing his upbringning rooted in tradition and his calm demeanor. The kingdoms in Uganda, including Tooro, were abolished in 1967 but restored in the early 1990s under President Museveni’s administration to promote cultural pride and national cohesion.
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