Rebecca Amoding-Rukidi
HABARI DAILY I Kampala, Uganda I Omugo Rebecca Amoding-Rukidi is stepping into one of Tooro Kingdom’s most revered traditional roles after her husband, Prince Edward Rukidi Kijanangoma, was selected as the kingdom’s 14th Omukama.
The development places the accomplished human resource professional at the centre of a new royal chapter following the death of Omukama Oyo Nyimba Kabamba Iguru Rukidi IV on August 27, 2026. The Babiito Royal Clan announced Kijanangoma’s selection on Wednesday, September 9, after an unexpected turn in the succession process.
The new king was selected after George Desmond Kamurasi, who had initially emerged as the preferred candidate, reportedly declined the throne. The Babiito then settled on Kijanangoma, a former Uganda Broadcasting Corporation (UBC) news anchor and editor and a member of the royal family.
From human resource manager to Omugo
With her husband’s elevation, Rebecca Amoding-Rukidi now assumes the traditional title of Omugo, the Queen Consort of Tooro.
Before entering the royal spotlight, Amoding had built a professional career in human resource management and organisational development. She currently works as Human Resource Manager at Vivo Energy Uganda, where her responsibilities have included people management, organisational development and staff development.
Her professional experience spans several sectors and institutions, including the United Nations World Food Programme, Unilever, Britania Allied Industries, Case Medical Centres and SAS Clinics.
Her career has been characterised by human resource strategy, leadership development, talent management and mentorship — experience that could become valuable as she takes on a more visible public role within the kingdom.
Amoding holds a master’s degree in management studies specialising in human resource management, as well as a postgraduate diploma in management studies and a Bachelor of Arts in Education. She is also associated with the Chartered Institute of Personnel and Development.
A marriage that predates the throne
Amoding and Kijanangoma have been married since December 2018, when they held their wedding ceremony at Watoto Church in Kampala.
Their marriage means her entry into the royal household is not a recent development brought about by the succession. She has been part of Kijanangoma’s private life for years, long before his name became synonymous with the Tooro throne.
That relationship will now take on a much more public dimension. As Omugo, Amoding is expected to stand alongside the new king at cultural, charitable and community engagements, while also becoming a prominent figure in the kingdom’s social and development activities.
Her background in human resource management could also shape the way she approaches her new responsibilities, particularly in areas involving youth, women, mentorship, leadership and community development.
The woman behind the new king
Kijanangoma’s selection has also brought renewed attention to his own background. Before being named Omukama, he was known to Ugandans primarily as a journalist and television presenter. He worked at UBC as a news anchor and editor and became a familiar face to viewers through the national broadcaster’s news programming.
His transition from the newsroom to the royal palace represents one of the most striking developments in the succession following Oyo’s death.
The Babiito announced that Kijanangoma was selected by the 21-member succession committee established to identify a successor. A resolution signed by 19 members endorsed him as the new Omukama and identified him as the son of the late Prince Christopher Paul Kijanangoma and grandson of Omukama Sir George David Rukidi Kamurasi III.
He therefore comes from a direct royal lineage, despite having spent much of his professional life away from the traditional functions of the palace.
A new chapter after King Oyo
Kijanangoma’s selection marks the end of a reign that lasted more than three decades. Oyo became Omukama in September 1995 at only three years old following the death of his father, King Patrick Matthew Kaboyo Olimi III. He grew into one of Uganda’s best-known traditional rulers and remained on the throne until his death at the age of 34.
The succession has attracted considerable public attention because of the circumstances surrounding the selection.
The Babiito initially backed Kamurasi, a UK-based member of the royal family, but his reported reluctance to abandon his family and professional life in England forced the clan to reconsider its choice. The eventual selection of Kijanangoma has therefore created a new royal pairing in which a former television journalist becomes king and a corporate human resource specialist becomes Omugo.
The role ahead for Omugo Rebecca
Amoding’s new position will extend beyond ceremonial appearances. Uganda’s traditional kingdoms are cultural institutions rather than political governments, and the Omukama does not exercise executive state power. However, the king and royal household retain considerable cultural and social significance among their communities.
For the new Omugo, that means representing the kingdom at functions, supporting community initiatives and helping strengthen the visibility of the royal household.
Her professional experience could give her a distinctive platform, particularly in championing mentorship, women’s advancement, leadership development and skills-building.
As Tooro prepares for the traditional rites that will install Kijanangoma, attention will increasingly turn to the new royal couple.
Amoding now carries the title of Omugo at a moment when Tooro is mourning a long-serving king, preparing for a new reign and seeking to preserve the cultural traditions that have sustained the kingdom through generations. The new Queen Consort will consequently be among the key figures expected to help give the new reign its public and social identity.
