Edward Rukidi Kijanangoma, a 56-year-old journalist and former anchor and editor at the state broadcaster, has been crowned king of Uganda's Tooro kingdom. The coronation ceremony involved traditional practices that started at midnight, including a mock fight to signify that kingship does not come easy. Kijanangoma walked about 4km to the official Karuziika royal palace where he was crowned King Edward Rukidi Kijanangoma Nyabongo I. The Tooro kingdom is one of Uganda's four main officially recognised historical kingdoms.
The late King Oyo Nyimba Kabamba Iguru Rukidi IV, who ruled the Tooro kingdom for 31 years, died last month at the age of 34. Oyo became king in 1995 at the age of just three, following the death of his father. The succession dispute arose as a recognised son of the late king was expected to succeed him, but the committee of 21 Babiito clan members chose Kijanangoma instead. The late king's mother, Queen Best Kemigisa, argued that the late king's will ought to have been respected, but the royal succession committee ignored her wishes.
According to tradition, a king must come from the Babiito clan, specifically the lineage of King George David Matthew Kamurasi Rukidi III. Kijanangoma and the late King Oyo are cousins, both being grandsons of Rukidi III, the 11th king, or Omukama, who ruled the Tooro kingdom from 1928 to 1965. Kijanangoma was among several people considered for the role, including Prince George Desmond Kamurasi, who declined the offer of the throne, citing other responsibilities.
The new king has promised that the palace will be open to the people, while vowing to focus on unity and development. He said he would use the connections he had built up over 21 years working as a journalist "to get good things for our people". Uganda's traditional kings have no formal political authority, but they retain cultural influence and command significant loyalty in the communities they lead.
The government backed the Babiito clan's choice of Kijanangoma, with Attorney General Sam Mayanja saying the Tooro kingdom was cleared to go ahead with the coronation, as there had not been a formal complaint against him. President Yoweri Museveni attended the ceremony, and his son, Muhoozi Kainerugaba, publicly supported Kijanangoma, posting "Long may he reign" on X.
Kijanangoma's name points to his royal heritage, with his father being born in the year King Rukidi III became king. The king gave him the name, which means the "one who comes with the royal drum". Kijanangoma was born in 1970 and raised at their family home at Kidukuru village in Fort Portal, about 300km from Kampala. He graduated with a mass communication degree from Uganda's prestigious Makerere University in 1999.
The years spent engaging with the public, interacting with leaders, and exposure to national affairs in his work as a journalist may yet serve Kijanangoma well as he returns to the community he came from, this time as their leader. The government restored the kingdoms in the early 1990s to promote cultural pride and national unity, but the move has also been interpreted as a way of appeasing communities and fostering political loyalty.
Key points
- The coronation of King Edward Rukidi Kijanangoma Nyabongo I has sparked a succession dispute in the Tooro kingdom.
- The new king has promised to focus on unity and development.
- Uganda's traditional kings have no formal political authority but retain cultural influence.
