As SFC Commandos take over the security detail of Tooro’s New Omukama Elect Edward Nyabongo Coronation,t eh country is awaiting the September 29th coronation event
HABARI DAILY I Kampala, Uganda I Preparations for the coronation of Prince Edward Rukidi Kijanangoma as Edward Rukidi Nyabongo I, the 14th Omukama of Tooro, have entered the final phase, even as the kingdom continues to grapple with a succession dispute that has divided members of the royal family.
The coronation is scheduled for September 29, 2026, at Karuziika Royal Palace in Fort Portal City, following the endorsement of Kijanangoma by the Tooro Kingdom Supreme Council.
The announcement of the date was made by Omujwera Musuuga Charles Kayondo Kamurasi, head of the Babiito royal clan, after the Supreme Council unanimously endorsed the decision of the 21-member Babiito succession committee to select Kijanangoma as successor to the late King Oyo Nyimba Kabamba Iguru Rukidi IV.
Kamurasi said preparations would begin immediately, with committees being established to oversee different aspects of the ceremony. Dr Richard Rwabuhinga has been retained as chairperson of the organising committee, having previously played a leading role in preparations for King Oyo’s burial.
The enthronement comes only weeks after King Oyo died on August 27 and was buried at the Karambi Royal Tombs on September 12 following days of official mourning.
Succession dispute remains major challenge
While the Babiito clan and the Supreme Council have endorsed Kijanangoma, his path to the throne has been accompanied by disagreement from members of Oyo’s immediate family.
Queen Mother Best Kemigisa and Princesses Ruth Komuntale and Elizabeth Bagaya have opposed the succession arrangement, arguing that the late king left a written will that should guide the choice of his successor.
The disputed account centres on claims that Oyo had designated his biological son as heir and had made provisions for succession should the child be unable to immediately assume the throne. The competing claims have created questions over the relationship between the Babiito clan’s traditional authority and the wishes attributed to the late king.
The disagreement means that the coronation preparations are taking place against a background of unresolved questions about legitimacy and the future unity of the royal household.
The Babiito clan, however, maintains that its selection process followed Tooro customs. The 21-member succession committee said it assessed potential candidates using criteria developed for the process rather than simply choosing the next king through a conventional vote.
The Tooro Elders Forum has also backed the Babiito process and supported Kijanangoma’s selection.
Rebuilding a divided kingdom
For Kijanangoma, therefore, the coronation will mark not only the beginning of a new reign but also the start of a difficult effort to restore cohesion within the kingdom.
The king-designate has already indicated that unity will be one of his priorities.
Speaking after participating in rituals connected to Oyo’s burial, Kijanangoma said Tooro belongs to all Batooro and should not be viewed as the preserve of the Babiito clan. He pledged to open the palace to all subjects and to address divisions that he said had weakened attachment to the kingdom and reduced participation in cultural activities such as Empango.
His challenge will be to translate those assurances into reconciliation with members of the royal family and other factions that remain unhappy with the succession process.
Building the new administration
The king-designate has also begun putting in place the structures through which he will communicate and organise his new administration.
On September 15, he appointed Fr Paul Busingye Akiiki Nyakaana as interim Principal Personal Secretary and spokesperson and announced changes to his official communication channels. The move came as the kingdom began preparations for the September 29 ceremony.
The new administration will also have to rebuild confidence in Tooro’s institutions and maintain working relations with Uganda’s central government, which recognises traditional kingdoms as cultural institutions rather than sovereign governments.
President Yoweri Museveni has already called for the succession dispute to be resolved peacefully and through lawful means. His message was delivered during Oyo’s burial at the Karambi Royal Tombs.
A new chapter after Oyo
Kijanangoma’s coronation will consequently represent a major transition for a kingdom that was ruled by Oyo for more than three decades.
Oyo became king as a three-year-old in 1995 and was guided through his childhood by regents before assuming greater responsibilities as he grew older. His death at the age of 34 has now opened a new chapter in Tooro’s history.
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