A recent social media post circulating on TikTok and X, formerly Twitter, claims that Prince Edward Rukidi Kijanangoma, the designated king of the Tooro kingdom, has declined the throne. The post, which has been widely shared, purportedly shows a screenshot of Kijanangoma's statement on his X platform. However, PesaCheck, a fact-checking organisation, has verified the claim and found it to be false.
The controversy surrounding Kijanangoma's succession began when Musuuga Charles Kamurasi, the leader of the ruling Babiito royal clan, declared him as the successor of the deceased Oyo Nyimba Kabamba Iguru IV on September 9, 2026. However, some sections of the royal family rejected Kijanangoma, citing a will left behind by the deceased king that detailed who would succeed him. The declaration sparked a heated debate, with many questioning Kijanangoma's legitimacy as the next king.
PesaCheck conducted a thorough investigation, including a keyword search, which did not yield any confirmatory results to support the claim that Kijanangoma declined the throne. Furthermore, a review of Kijanangoma's X platform revealed that the post was made by an account using his name but with a description that it is a 'parody account', indicating that it does not belong to him. This account has posted on several unrelated topics, raising suspicions about its authenticity.
In addition, Kijanangoma had announced that he had terminated all personal social media accounts and appointed Nyakaana Businge as his personal secretary. When contacted by telephone, Nyakaana confirmed that the king did not decline the throne, stating, "He didn't post that. It's not true." This statement corroborates PesaCheck's findings that the claim is fake.
The Tooro kingdom supreme council has since confirmed Kijanangoma as the next king, and Kamurasi has set September 29, 2026, as Kijanangoma's coronation day. The council's confirmation and the upcoming coronation contradict the claim that Kijanangoma declined the throne. PesaCheck's investigation has helped to quell the rumour and provide clarity on the succession process.
PesaCheck is part of a series of fact-checking initiatives examining content marked as potential misinformation on Facebook and other social media platforms. By partnering with these platforms, third-party fact-checking organisations like PesaCheck aim to help the public distinguish fact from fiction. The organisation's efforts have been instrumental in debunking fake news and promoting accurate information.
The fact-check was written by PesaCheck fact-checker Flavia Nassaka and edited by senior copy editor Cédrick Irakoze and chief copy editor Stephen Ndegwa. The article was approved for publication by PesaCheck managing editor Doreen Wainainah. PesaCheck is East Africa's first public finance fact-checking initiative, co-founded by Catherine Gicheru and Justin Arenstein.
Key points
- The claim that Tooro king-designate Prince Edward Rukidi Kijanangoma declined the throne is fake.
- Kijanangoma was declared as the successor of the deceased Oyo Nyimba Kabamba Iguru IV on September 9, 2026.
- The Tooro kingdom supreme council has confirmed Kijanangoma as the next king, with a coronation date set for September 29, 2026.
