A journalist is set to be crowned as the king of the Tooro Kingdom in Uganda on Tuesday, following the death of the previous king, Oyo Nyimba, last month. The new king, who is also a prince and has worked as a broadcaster and editor with Uganda Broadcasting Corp, has chosen the regnal name Edward Rukidi Nyabongo. He performed overnight rituals and will be formally introduced to his followers later on Tuesday.
The Tooro Kingdom, which lost its traditional monarchy status in the 1960s after Uganda's independence, was restored in 1993. While traditional leaders do not have formal authority in Uganda, they hold significant influence as cultural guardians. The coronation ceremony will take place in Fort Portal, a town in western Uganda, and is expected to attract thousands of attendees and viewers through televised broadcasts.
Nyabongo was not initially high in the line of succession, but was selected by elders from the ruling Babiito clan after King Oyo's death from cancer at age 34 in August, despite there being no publicly known heir. The queen mother, Best Kemigisa, has contested this decision, claiming that King Oyo's written will was not adhered to and that he left behind a young son whose identity will be revealed later, raising questions about Nyabongo's legitimacy.
Reports indicate that there were disagreements during Oyo's funeral regarding the custody of his remains. While the identity of the alleged son remains undisclosed, images claiming to show a 'Baby Oyo' have circulated on social media, creating anticipation among supporters of the late king. Political analyst Nicholas Sengoba commented on the situation, stating that the Babiito's decision reflects the norms of the kingdom, though it may not be widely accepted.
Oyo was crowned in 1995 at the age of 3 and became a notable figure, even meeting world leaders such as Nelson Mandela and Moammar Gadhafi, who supported the royal family until his death in 2011. Oyo was guided by regents until he reached adulthood at 18.