Prince Edward Rukidi Kijanangoma Nyabongo II, a 56-year-old journalist, is set to be crowned king of Uganda's Tooro kingdom. For many years, he was a familiar face in Uganda as a long-serving anchor and editor at the state broadcaster. Kijanangoma's rise to the Tooro throne has sparked controversy and widespread reactions beyond Uganda. The Tooro kingdom is one of Uganda's four main officially recognized 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. He became king in 1995 at the age of three following his father's death and was once known as a "boy king". The coronation of Kijanangoma is a day of celebration, with traditional practices beginning at midnight. The new king then walks about 4km to the official Karuziika royal palace where he is crowned.
The selection of Kijanangoma as king was far from straightforward. According to tradition, a recognized son of the late king should succeed him. However, the late King Oyo had left a will instructing that a young son should be next on the throne, but the child has never been revealed to the public. The royal succession committee ignored the wishes of Queen Best Kemigisa, the late king's mother, who argued that the late king's will ought to have been respected.
Queen Best Kemigisa described celebrations for the next king taking place "only metres from where my son's body lay" as "extraordinarily painful". She later said Oyo's son, who was in the US state of Texas, had been due to return home but that could not happen amid a "tense and polarised succession dispute". The queen asserted that no child should be placed in circumstances where returning to his father's homeland could mean being drawn into hostility and conflict.
According to the Tooro kingdom's Information Minister Charles Mwanguhya, the son being talked about "hasn't been presented anywhere, which means there is a growing acceptance that sad as it may be, King Oyo didn't leave a son behind". 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 who were considered for the role, including Prince George Desmond Kamurasi, who plays football for one of the UK's best-known amateur clubs. The South East Dons captain and goalkeeper declined the offer of the throne, citing other responsibilities. After he was formally announced, Kijanangoma promised that the palace would be open to the people and vowed to focus on unity and development.
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. President Yoweri Museveni is scheduled to attend the coronation, and his son, Muhoozi Kainerugaba, has publicly supported Kijanangoma.
Key points
- The coronation of Kijanangoma as king of the Tooro kingdom has sparked a bitter succession dispute.
- Kijanangoma, a journalist, was chosen as king over a young son of the late King Oyo.
- The government has backed Kijanangoma's coronation, despite opposition from the late king's mother.
