Tooro Kingdom Crowns Nyabongo I Amid Succession Dispute

Former Ugandan broadcaster and editor Edward Rukidi Kijanangoma, 56, was crowned Edward Rukidi Nyabongo I, the new king of the Tooro Kingdom, in a ritual-filled ceremony attended by thousands in Fort Portal. He succeeds King Oyo Nyimba Kabamba Iguru Rukidi IV, who died of cancer at 34 last month. The royal Babiito clan’s 21-member committee selected Kijanangoma, Oyo’s cousin, after Oyo’s death triggered a succession dispute: Oyo’s mother and sister say he left a young son and a will naming the child as heir, while the clan says it knows of no such child. The coronation proceeded despite their objections, with reports that Uganda’s central government backed the selection. Although Uganda’s kingdoms have no formal political power, they remain important symbols of cultural identity and heritage.